EDEN Returns to SF With Intimate and Dynamic Show for DARK Tour
Written by Michelle Sy | November 3, 2025
EDEN at the Regency Ballroom | Photos by Michelle Sy
After three years of suspense and speculation, EDEN returned to the spotlight with an electrifying sixth album titled “DARK” this past August. A veteran in the music industry, EDEN first made a name for himself as The Eden Project in 2014, releasing highly popular electronic music that quickly gained traction on YouTube. Since then, he has released “End Credits”, the mainstream wonder “i think you think too much of me, vertigo, no future,” and most recently “ICYMI” in 2022. Each album is different from the last in many ways – stylistically, lyrically, and tonally. Behind this mysterious moniker is producer and musician Jonathon Ng, best defined as someone who goes against the “norms” in music and entertainment. And luckily for San Francisco, The Regency Ballroom welcomed him and his opener Greek on November 3rd for a night of memorable live music.
EDEN transcends genres and styles – he breaks boundaries and pushes the limit beyond what people might typically expect. Blending a variety of instrumentals, unique production, and raw, emotional lyrics, “DARK” is yet another masterfully created storytelling piece. It is a product of artistry that doesn’t care about deadlines, external pressures, and climbing the charts, centered around authentic self-expression.
Originally 13 songs, the album received an additional five tracks in “DDAARRKK” disc one: “Trophy Hunting, Twin, Hello, redemption arc”, and “Under the Skin” – giving the album an entirely different feeling. The overall vibe of “DARK” seems to center on themes of falling in love, death, and relationships. EDEN plays around with variations of the sentiment “I want you to know” in several songs throughout the album. In his song 5ever one standout lyric is “If time could stand still / If I could change” which feels like a callback to “Still*.”* He describes the rush of love in “team,” the struggle of accepting reality and the end in “Ghost in The shell”, **and vulnerability in “pocket (montreal).”
One of the best parts about listening to an EDEN album is not knowing what to expect: for example, he frequently samples lines from movies, real conversations, and other languages, bringing new dimensionality to his music. He tends to layer vocal tracks and distort his voice as well – one notable musical and lyrical buildup takes place in “twiin”: “I feel it, an ocean, I feel it, compulsion.” On stage, EDEN accompanied the intensity of this moment with flashing LEDs and lyrics behind him. There is a mix of stripped down songs alongside some more “hidden” upbeat tracks, many of them revealing complex layering, guitar riffs, and sampling from everyday life/media.
There is no other word to describe EDEN’s shows but ethereal. He has a way of creating an intoxicating ambiance and drawing fans completely into the moment. It is always exciting seeing what he does with his visuals and lighting, as they play such a large role in creating the specific atmosphere. A 90s-style screen came to life when he entered the stage, allowing him to browse through what year, song, and album to pick. He built the suspense perfectly, pausing on certain songs to rile up the crowd before kicking off the show with “XO.”
In a previous interview, EDEN mentioned that he had gotten the inspiration to display lyrics on screen on his last tour, and the intent was to create a more communal experience – the lyrics aren’t just his, but his listeners’ too. At times the stage was lit by only a few lights streaming through what looked like windows, illuminating his stage presence and emphasizing the minimalistic setup of just him and a microphone.
It was unfathomable how he could pull off songs with such varying vibes: “projector*”* felt like stepping into another world, “Closer 2” **was a techno club song in disguise, and “pocket (montreal)” had the entire crowd holding its breath as he sang with such poignant emotion. And yet, the entire set felt cohesive and representative of the kind of artist EDEN is. There is clear effort in something as small as the timing of the lighting to make it feel more than just a show: it’s an experience.
A fan at the concert very aptly observed that EDEN has built quite an astonishing cult-like following. Many fans discovered him more than seven or eight years ago and have continued to stick around. Despite only dropping music once every few years with little publicity in between, EDEN’s on and off presence has not deterred people from flying across the country to catch his tours or supporting his album releases.
It might be some time before EDEN returns, but rest assured that his impressive discography has all the range in music one might need – and listen closely to catch all of the quirks and details in his production.
