EDEN is proving that SoundCloud is to aspiring musicians what Instagram can be for aspiring models. The artist has taken his online creations and transitioned it into a legit career, making fans out of fellow indie-pop cohorts like Lorde. Even only one month into 2018, this year has already seen the release of his debut album vertigo and a bunch of sold-out tour dates all over the globe, making him an instant pick for our Class of 2018. Read on as EDEN answers our questions about creativity, unexpected dream collaborations, and what he's both excited and concerned about in the future.

What's your vision for the industry you work in for 2018?

I want people to make things that really excite and move them. To be passionate about what they create and do it for the love of it. To push boundaries.

What's the best advice you've ever received and why?

That no matter what we have or haven’t done, our best days can never be behind us. I think keeping your eyes forward is the most important thing people can do a lot of the time. If you’ve made something great, make something greater. If you’ve lost something you loved, find something new. It’s not about forgetting about people or leaving things behind, but understanding that living in the past gets you nowhere.

What social/political issues or causes resonate with you most, and why?

I think the environment and our role in decimating it will be the greatest stumbling block in human existence. The thought that we are ruining our own, our future children and grandchildren’s lives for profit or by negligence or ignorance is heartbreaking. A lack of empathy is the crux of the issue I think, and it extends much further beyond the environment to social and political issues too. People either can’t or won’t look beyond themselves a lot of the time. It’s too easy to live in your own bubble. We have seemingly reached an impasse, where both sides of most divisions refuse to communicate constructively. No opinion was ever changed with a punch in the mouth, no matter how many wars or victories for good might have come about that way.

What has been the biggest challenge you’ve faced so far? How did you overcome it?

I think the biggest challenge I faced was time. I had a window to work in 2016 where I wanted to try and get a head start on my album vertigo, and I couldn’t make any music. I spent months tinkering but could not get over writer's block no matter how much I tried or wanted to. Eventually I got down to making the album, but still the clock was ticking as I had shows to play and various other time constraints in 2017. So I stressed to make sure that I didn’t let it get to me and that I could still wrap things up. Funny enough though, in the end all it took was time. No amount of cramming work on a mix or last minute recording would finish the album — and I learned that eventually. Some songs would go unchanged for weeks or months and then suddenly feel finished. So in between shows in the summer, I made the finishing touches and submitted the final version. It was definitely a valuable lesson to learn.

How did you get your start?

My parents put me into violin lessons when I was about 6 or 7. My siblings were learning piano so I started playing around on the electric piano in the house. As soon as I started learning how to play, I started writing songs. From there it was like a weird compulsion for me — it was something that I just wanted to do all the time.

How do you define success for yourself? Is it different than happiness?

I think you can find success in many different ways. Of course there are goals I’d like to hit and it would be amazing to have the things I create reach as wide an audience as possible, but I think it’s really important to understand that not all successes are equal. I would rather create something that I’m proud of than sell a million albums. I would rather be content with what I have than have excess.

When and where do you feel most creative?

Wherever I’m comfortable. I think different places can have a great effect of creativity, they can both inspire you and push you in new directions. But if I feel like I’m being watched or uncomfortable, I will not be able to do anything. I like my childhood bedroom a lot, I spent so much time making music in there that it’s probably the place I feel most natural creating in.

Who is your dream collaborator, in any field (music, art, fashion, etc.) and what kind of project would you love to do with this person?

I really love Denis Villeneuve’s work. Arrival and Blade Runner 2049, I saw both three times in cinemas. There is something about the way he highlights small human moments and shows their beauty. I would love to work on a visual project with him, whether it was a short film or longer.

Where do you want to be professionally in 5 years? In 10 years?

I was asked this recently and I still don’t think I have an answer. It’s really hard for me to imagine myself at 27 or 32. If I could wish for anything professionally, it would be to have made a positive impact on people — to have moved the cultural needle a little — and to be content with that. If I can have any sort of significance without sacrificing my integrity, that is a victory.

What is the most enjoyable part of your job(s)?

Creating. I love writing music. I love the feeling of bringing something from an idea to something tangible, expressing things that I couldn’t otherwise express. Whether it’s my debut album or a YouTube video, I want to make things that speak for more than the sum of the parts. Both might have words in it but I could never describe what the album means to me in writing. If I could, I would just tell you. I live for the in-between.