Paul van Dyk is a Grammy-nominated German DJ, producer, and trance pioneer known for iconic anthems like For an Angel and founding VANDIT Records.
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Why Paul van Dyk belongs in the Hall of Fame
Paul van Dyk stands as one of trance music's most influential figures, pioneering the genre since the early 1990s. From his early DJ sets at Berlin's Tresor, his melodic sound helped define the electronic music landscape and achieved multi-million global album sales.
As the founder of VANDIT Records and host of VONYC Sessions, which celebrated its 1,000th episode in 2026, van Dyk earned a Grammy nomination for his 2003 album Reflections and was voted World No. 1 DJ twice by DJ Magazine. His dedication to electronic music solidifies his lasting legacy.
Fact Box
- Born: 16 December 1971, Eisenhüttenstadt (East Germany)
- DJ / Active since: 1991
- Label: VANDIT
- Notable achievements: Grammy Award nominee for Reflections, voted World No. 1 DJ by DJ Magazine in 2005 and 2006, Ariel Award (Mexico) for the Zurdo film score
Listen: Paul van Dyk Essentials
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The Essential Classics
Paul van Dyk - For an Angel (1994)
VANDIT
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Originally released on his album 45 RPM, this track became van Dyk's signature work. Its 1998 E-Werk Remix topped the UK Dance Chart and cemented its reputation as one of the greatest trance records of all time.
Paul van Dyk - My World (1994)
VANDIT | The Green Valley EP
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Released on The Green Valley EP in 1994, the same year as his debut album 45 RPM, this melodic early track is a fan favourite from van Dyk's formative Berlin years. It later reappeared on his 2003 release Global.
Paul van Dyk - Tell Me Why (The Riddle) (2000)
VANDIT | feat. Saint Etienne
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A collaboration with English indie dance group Saint Etienne featuring Sarah Cracknell on vocals. Reaching number seven on the UK Singles Chart made it the highest-charting UK hit for both acts.
Paul van Dyk - We Are Alive (2000)
VANDIT
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Featured on the breakthrough album Out There and Back, this melodic single was a major European hit that reworked Jennifer Brown's song Alive into an energetic club classic.
Paul van Dyk - Nothing But You (2003)
VANDIT | feat. Hemstock & Jennings
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A single from the Grammy-nominated album Reflections, created alongside Hemstock & Jennings. The track was also featured on the EA Games FIFA 2004 soundtrack.
Paul van Dyk - The Other Side (2005)
VANDIT | feat. Wayne Jackson
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Preceding the mix album The Politics of Dancing 2, this track featured vocals by Wayne Jackson and was dedicated to victims and families affected by the 2004 tsunami.
Paul van Dyk - White Lies (2007)
VANDIT | feat. Jessica Sutta
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Serving as the lead single from In Between, this track featured vocals from Jessica Sutta of the Pussycat Dolls.
Paul van Dyk - Let Go (2007)
VANDIT | feat. Rea Garvey
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A collaborative vocal effort with Rea Garvey of Reamonn from In Between. This track was released as a single accompanied by an official music video.
Paul van Dyk - We Are One (2009)
VANDIT | feat. Johnny McDaid
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Recorded with Northern Ireland vocalist Johnny McDaid for the 20th Anniversary Memorial of the fall of the Berlin Wall, this track inspired its own event at O2 World Berlin.
Paul van Dyk - Eternity (2012)
VANDIT | feat. Adam Young
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A collaboration with Owl City's Adam Young from the studio album Evolution.
Paul van Dyk - Everyone Needs Love (2016)
VANDIT
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Released as the lead single from the album From Then On, this uplifting track opened a new chapter in van Dyk's catalogue.
Paul van Dyk & Sue McLaren - Guiding Light (2020)
VANDIT
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The melodic title track of his tenth studio album Guiding Light, featuring vocals from Sue McLaren.
Paul van Dyk & Julia Westlin - Beautiful (2025)
VANDIT
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A vocal highlight from the 2025 album This World Is Ours, featuring Julia Westlin and showing that his melodic signature sound is as strong as ever.
Hidden Gems
Paul van Dyk - Avenue (1999)
VANDIT
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Issued alongside Another Way as the debut release on VANDIT Records, this track was featured on the soundtrack of the video game Wipeout 3.
Paul van Dyk - Breaking Dawn (2018)
VANDIT
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The final single released from the album From Then On, arriving in February 2018.
Paul van Dyk & FUENKA - Seven Seas (2025)
VANDIT
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Released in February 2025 together with progressive house duo FUENKA as the first in a series of releases leading up to the album This World Is Ours.
Paul van Dyk, Paul Thomas & EKKO - Shed Your Light (2025)
VANDIT
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A three-way collaboration with Paul Thomas and EKKO from the album This World Is Ours.
The VANDIT Label Group
What started as VANDIT Records has grown into a whole family of labels:
- VANDIT Records - Listen on Spotify
- VANDIT Alternative - Listen on Spotify
- VANTEC
- Château Bonheur Musique - Listen on Spotify
Projects & Aliases
The Visions of Shiva:
An early 1990s collaboration between Paul van Dyk and Cosmic Baby. The duo released two singles on the Berlin label MFS, titled Perfect Day and How Much Can You Take?, before going their separate musical ways in 1993.
Aurien: A 2026 project in which Paul van Dyk steps away from trance towards ambient, chill-out and lounge. Its first single Empatia, made with Jab Vix, was released on his own label Château Bonheur Musique.
Career Highlights
- 1991 - Performs his first DJ set at Tresor in Berlin
- 1994 - Releases debut studio album 45 RPM featuring For an Angel
- 1999 - First releases on his own label VANDIT Records
- 2003 - Earns a Grammy Award nomination for the album Reflections
- 2005 - Voted World No. 1 DJ by DJ Magazine and Mixmag
- 2006 - Receives the Order of Merit of Berlin and wins World No. 1 DJ for a second consecutive year
- 2017 - Completes and releases his eighth studio album From Then On
- 2025 - Releases the album This World Is Ours
- 2026 - Celebrates 1,000 episodes of VONYC Sessions with a sold-out live event in Berlin
- 2026 - Launches the ambient and lounge alias Aurien with the single Empatia
FAQ
What was Paul van Dyk's first album?
Paul van Dyk released his debut studio album 45 RPM in 1994, which featured his signature track For an Angel.
When was VANDIT Records founded?
Paul van Dyk founded VANDIT Records in Berlin, and the label launched in 1999 with his release of Another Way and Avenue.
What is VONYC Sessions?
VONYC Sessions is Paul van Dyk's weekly radio show. It celebrated its 1,000th episode in January 2026 with a sold-out live event in Berlin.
Has Paul van Dyk received a Grammy nomination?
Yes, he was nominated for a Grammy Award in the Best Dance/Electronic Album category for his 2003 release Reflections.
Why did Paul van Dyk adopt his stage name?
He selected his Belgian-sounding stage name because he frequently incorporated Belgian dance records into his early 1990s DJ sets.
Follow Paul van Dyk:
Website · Instagram · Facebook · X · SoundCloud · YouTube · Spotify · Discogs
Compiled by the #TranceFamily editorial team using Wikipedia and other public sources. Spotted a mistake? Drop us a line at contact@trance-family.com.
