For someone who doesn’t walk to Tesco alone, I found myself in a rather interesting fix when I realised I would be going to a concert – alone. The tickets had been booked before I even got my university acceptance and while staring at them like a complete idiot for almost an hour on a gloomy Sunday afternoon, I reached the conclusion that this was something I had to do.
EDEN is undoubtedly one of the artists I was willing to take this risk for and somewhere deep down in my ever-anxious and nervous heart, I knew it would be so worth it. His music has been one of the few things I’ve held onto in my life since I first heard him back in 2014 (when he was The Eden Project). I was flushed with sudden pangs of worry and embarrassment for having to go a concert alone. With strict guidelines about keeping my wits about me (thank you dear roommate!) and memorising bus routes, I embarked on a journey to Brixton, without knowing I was on the road to one of the best nights of my *entire* existence.
I’ve always found myself engaged in an internal debate about going to huge events alone and being the odd one out. I’ve also been concerned about safety for people travelling alone and being at the venue by themselves. Although it seems alright, it is never too bad to keep an eye out for yourself at all times. Being a typically shy and slightly introverted person, the “go make new friends at the event” talk never helps me out at all. Nonetheless, I mustered the courage to ask the couple ahead of me if I was in the correct line and that’s how I made my first friends for the night (shoutout to them for taking me along on their priority passes to enter first!)
Stepping into the O2 Arena, Brixton felt like a dream come true. I was about to see an artist I truly loved, someone I never thought I’d have the opportunity to share the same space with and have almost 30 feet away from me. By the time EDEN started his set, a few friendly smiles were exchanged between my fellow audience members and all my fears were put to rest. It was surreal to be in a room where so many people shared the same vibe and energy. As an artist, EDEN was phenomenal. He knew how to keep his audience engaged. With constant cheers and sing-alongs, he definitely had an arena filled with energetic, emotional and passionate fans. And that’s what made the show what it was.
Standing before the multi-instrumentalist Irish artist was truly a privilege. His ‘less is more’ element was clearly visible through his performances with only brilliant light effects accentuating the show. EDEN’s music is young and emotionally raw – his songs strike chords in my heart unlike any other. The artist’s connection with his music was clearly visible on stage where he moved from one instrument to another and amalgamated it with his powerful vocals. If I had to describe EDEN’s stage presence in one word, it would undoubtedly be ‘real’.
So with a quick reflection, if I’m ever faced with the mind boggling dilemma of “should I go alone?”, my answer has definitely inched towards a YES from a very doubtful maybe. I still can’t get over the experiences I had that night – from being worried about not making it through a series of events that just made everything fall into place and make it the best it could be. Afterall, the best moments aren’t planned, they take place when you face your fears, do something different and rock out! And no matter how overwhelming something seems at first, it all works out great from start//end.
Saiba Ahuja
