Paul van Dyk’s new album This World Is Ours, released April 11, 2025, is more than just a comeback. It’s a call to attention. His eleventh LP—and first in five years—marks a profound reflection on humanity’s relationship with artificial intelligence. The project weaves technology and emotion into a cohesive, urgent body of work. It isn’t about a distant dystopia. It’s a statement about the present moment and the choices shaping our future.
Speaking exclusively to EDMNOMAD, Paul shares, “Life’s full-on at the moment, but in the best possible way. The release of This World Is Ours has brought with it a lot of excitement, a lot of conversations, and a lot of energy from fans around the world. I’m constantly traveling, performing, and now talking about the ideas behind the album, which are very close to my heart. So yeah, busy—but feeling very inspired.”
A Mirror to Society, Not a Warning
Paul insists this isn’t a grim prediction. “This isn’t an album about the dystopian, grave future prognoses,” he says. “It’s about where we are in 2025, the here and now.” He adds, “Currently This World Is Ours is a statement of fact. We might have inherited the world, though we certainly don’t always treat it as we should.”
Reflecting on how far-reaching AI’s influence is, he warns, “We’re on the 5–10 year cusp of creating something that’ll significantly disrupt everything as we know it.” He continues, “In respect to an entity that thinks, calculates, achieves a thousand times faster than we do, I feel there needs to be more thought about that … and we’re rapidly speeding towards the last station-stop to do so.”
Human Emotion in a Machine Age
The album confronts the growing divide between human intuition and artificial efficiency. “We don’t view technology in the same way that we view our fellow humans,” Paul says. “Most people on our planet see technology as something that provides a positive advancement, and thus far, we’ve controlled it, rather than vice versa.”
He adds, “It is worth noting that when AI reaches self-awareness—at an Artificial General Intelligence or even Super-Intelligence level—that all will change. We will no longer be Earth’s undisputed apex inhabitant.”
These questions are not abstract for Paul. “This World Is Ours isn’t just a collection of tracks—it’s a statement,” he explains. “It’s an artistic reflection of where we are right now as a society, standing at the edge of massive technological change.”
Creating Through Collaboration and Curiosity
For this deeply conceptual album, Paul worked with trusted artists like John 00 Fleming, FUENKA, The Yellowheads, Sue McLaren, and Christian Schottstaedt. Every contributor helped push the creative limits of the project.
“I wanted to work with people who are not just great musicians, but who share a deeper curiosity about where we’re headed,” he says. “John 00 Fleming, for example, brings a completely unique perspective.” On their track “Against the Algorithm”, he adds, “We were united in pushing back against a music industry that too often favors formula over feeling.”
FUENKA’s contribution on “Seven Seas” focused on “diving into something vast and emotive,” he says. Each collaboration was about “dialogue—creative, philosophical, human.”
Against the Algorithm: Programming the Programmers
Paul is candid about the stakes of AI-driven culture. “Love it or hate it, through our experiences with social media, we’ve visibly seen through a portal of the potential technological pitfalls,” he explains. “We are already being socially disrupted to the point that it’s affecting mankind’s immediate behaviour.”
He adds, “To no small degree, algorithms are already actively programming us. This, I believe, should be something of a cautionary tale for what’s to come. It was at the forefront of our minds when John and myself were producing the song.”
Testing AI’s Creative Limits with “The Poem”
Paul’s first and final creative interaction with AI was “The Poem”, released earlier with “Seven Seas.” He instructed AI to “write a beautiful poem about seafaring, the elements of nature, and the sea, all presented with a strong, positive outlook. The result was uncanny. “It’s not a counterpoint to my beliefs, but an experiment… My due diligence, if you like,” Paul explains. “Those were its only hints, and the creative, emotionally human level with which it responded, to me, was indistinguishable from the real thing.”
Five Years of Evolution and Soul
After five years, Paul’s approach to production has evolved significantly. “Over the last five years, I’ve had more time to think deeply—not just as a producer, but as a human being living in a rapidly shifting world,” he says. “I’ve always believed electronic music is capable of great emotional expression, and with this album, I’ve tried to bring that to the forefront.”
Paul van Dyk adds, “The sound has evolved to carry more nuance, more layers, more introspection.”
On the broader state of electronic music, Paul notes major changes. “Technology has made music creation and distribution more accessible than ever, which is beautiful—but it’s also brought challenges.” He elaborates, “Algorithms now shape what gets heard, and trends often prioritize short-term impact over lasting substance.”
Still, the heart remains. “The community, the passion, the people on the dancefloor who come together for something real—that hasn’t changed.” With this album, Paul wanted to “remind people of that soul at the heart of it all.”
What Comes After the Album
The journey is just beginning. “The conversations this album has sparked are only just beginning,” he says. “I’ll be touring heavily, bringing This World Is Ours to stages around the globe.” But he’s also thinking about how artists can help society.
“I want to keep engaging with people—not just as a DJ or producer, but as someone who’s concerned about where we’re headed.” Music will remain his guide. “I’m already writing new music, of course,” he adds, “but I’m also thinking about how art can help us navigate the next few years consciously and creatively.”
Of Dolphins, Dogs, and the Dancefloor
Asked what animal he would be for a day, Paul smiles. “Maybe a dolphin—intelligent, social, always in motion, and deeply connected to the environment around them.” He continues, “There’s something beautifully instinctual about how they communicate and navigate the world. Plus, being surrounded by the sea, even for a day, sounds like the perfect contrast to the artificial complexity of modern life.”
Then he laughs. “My dog Bailey lives a pretty sweet and chill life too. I wouldn’t mind swapping lives sometimes.”
To the Fans: This Journey Is Shared
Paul closes with gratitude. “Thank you. Your energy, your support, your open minds and open hearts mean everything to me.” He continues, “This World Is Ours is a journey we’re taking together, and I’m so grateful you’ve chosen to walk this path with me.”
He ends with a note of hope. “Whether you’ve been with me since the ’90s or just discovered the music recently, I hope this album moves you, makes you think, and most importantly, reminds you that this world—our world—is still full of wonder, beauty, and potential. Let’s treat it, and each other, accordingly.”
Experience the new album, This World Is Ours, here.
