Daily Inspiration: Meet EDwen

Today we’d like to introduce you to EDwen.

EDwen, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My name is EDwen, and I’ve been connected to music for as long as I can remember. I started writing and creating music at a young age, especially during a time in my life when I was trying to understand myself. I came out at a very young age, and growing up, I didn’t always feel like I had a safe or comfortable place to express everything I was feeling. Music became my therapy, my escape, and a place where I could be completely honest with myself.

Over the years, that love for music turned into something much bigger. I released my first album, Luvtape in 2022 following it with my album confessions of a capricorn. since then I’ve continued to develop my sound, my artistry, and my identity. I’m originally from Akron, Ohio, but I moved to Columbus and began building a name for myself here. I’ve spent a lot of time simply putting in the work—writing, performing, creating, learning, networking, and constantly pushing myself to become a better artist.

My latest album, BACK2ME, represents a really important chapter in that journey. This project brought so much more life into me and into the person I am as an artist. It allowed me to look inward, tell my story, embrace different parts of myself, and really reconnect with who I am. It feels like more than just an album—it feels like a reflection of my growth. I’m incredibly grateful for everything that has happened throughout this era, and I truly feel like God has been blessing me and opening doors for me along the way.

That work has led to opportunities I’m extremely proud of. I’ve had my music featured in films, including a project that made it to Tubi, had my music chart on the iTunes charts, performed at festivals and Pride events, and created experiences that allow people to connect with me beyond just the music. More importantly, I’ve been able to build a genuine community of supporters who believe in what I’m doing, show up for me, purchase my work, and continue to grow with me.

A huge part of my journey is being able to represent myself authentically as an LGBTQ+ artist. I know what it feels like to be young and feel like you have to hide parts of yourself, so being able to stand on a stage today and unapologetically be who I am means a lot to me. My art gives me the opportunity to tell my story, but it also gives other people permission to see themselves in mine.

Even my name, EDwen, has a deeper meaning. “EDwen” was actually a name and identity I created for myself when I was younger, before I even fully understood that I wanted to be an artist. The name is associated with ideas of being rich, happy, and a friend—qualities I wanted to embody because, at the time, I didn’t always feel rich or fulfilled within my spirit, and I wasn’t always happy with who I was or where I was in life. As I grew older, I realized that EDwen represented the person I wanted to become.

So in a way, becoming an artist allowed me to become that person. Everything I’ve experienced—the struggles, the growth, the music, BACK2ME, the performances, the supporters, and the opportunities—has helped me become the person and artist I am today. I’m proud of where I came from, proud to be from Akron, proud of the name I’ve built in Columbus, and most importantly, grateful that I never stopped creating, believing, and becoming.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No, it definitely has not been a smooth road. Honestly, every year has been a learning experience for me, and I feel like a lot of those experiences have shaped me into the artist and person I am today.

Being a Black and gay artist has come with its own challenges, especially when I was younger and still trying to figure out who I was and what I wanted to become. But one of the biggest challenges was simply getting people to believe in me.

There was actually a time when I felt like I was the laughing stock. When I was first coming up with my music, people didn’t believe in me. There were people who thought I couldn’t sing, and I remember being laughed at in school. I even remember having one of my videos projected on a screen in front of people and watching everyone laugh at me. Those are the kinds of moments that can really discourage somebody and make them question whether they should keep pursuing their dream.

But looking back now, those moments honestly make me proud of myself. Sometimes I really sit back and think, “Wow. You really didn’t let that stop you.” I shock myself sometimes when I think about how much I went through and how I still chose to keep going.

I think that’s one of the things that shows you who is really meant to be an artist. It’s easy to call yourself an artist when everything is going well, but being able to take criticism, embarrassment, rejection, and doubt on the chin and still wake up the next day and pursue your dream—that’s different.

I’ve always had a vision of who I wanted to become. Even when other people couldn’t see it, I could. And when you have that dream and that image in your head, you have to keep going until you make it real.

I’m still learning, and I know I still have a long way to go, but I’m proud of the person I became through all of it. The things that were once meant to discourage me became some of the biggest reasons I refuse to stop. I think that’s what makes my journey so meaningful to me—I’m not just chasing a dream anymore. I’m proving to myself that the person I always believed I could become was real all along.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m EDwen, a singer, songwriter, performer, actor, rapper, and creative who refuses to be limited to one box. I came into my career rooted in R&B and soul, and while I’m incredibly proud of my foundation as a vocalist, I’ve grown into an artist who can move freely through pop, R&B, hip-hop, soul, and beyond. I can sing, rap, perform, dance, act, and create, and I believe that versatility is one of the things that truly sets me apart.

More than anything, I’m a performer. I believe every performance should be a moment, not just a set of songs. When I step onstage, I want people to feel like they experienced something. The same goes for my music. When I release a song or an album, it isn’t just a release to me. It’s a message, a visual world, an era, a vibe, and a moment that people can connect to. I recently released my new album, BACK2ME, which represents that idea of returning to my most authentic self.

I’m also incredibly passionate about fashion, visual storytelling, and creating a complete experience around my artistry. I’ve had the opportunity to perform at multiple fashion shows, including events during fashion week, and I’ve realized that my artistry extends far beyond music. I want to be known as a true entertainer and a fashion-forward creative who can command attention whether I’m on a stage, a red carpet, in front of a camera, or creating music.

What I’m most proud of is that I’ve built this identity independently while remaining authentic to who I am. I’m unapologetically Black and gay, and those parts of me naturally exist within my art, but I don’t want them to be the only definition of my music. I want people to know me for my creativity, my talent, my versatility, and my ability to connect with people.

I don’t believe in putting myself into a genre box anymore. I believe I’m an all-around juggernaut. I can adapt to almost any sound, any stage, any creative space, and still make it feel like me. I’m intentional about my artistry, my rollouts, my visuals, my performances, and the world I’m building. I don’t just want to release music or perform. I want to create moments that people remember.

I’m EDwen. I’m an artist, I’m a performer, I’m a creative, and I’m a star. And everything I create is ultimately about becoming more unapologetically me.

Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned throughout my journey is that I have to do what makes sense for me, even when it doesn’t make sense to everyone else. At the end of the day, I’m the one responsible for taking my career to the next level, and that starts with truly believing in myself and trusting my own vision.

I’ve also learned that numbers aren’t everything. Streams, followers, and social media numbers can be great, but there’s nothing more valuable than building a real, authentic fan base of people who genuinely believe in you and support you beyond the internet. I want to build a community, not just an audience.

Another huge lesson has been learning to be the most authentic version of myself. I’ve spent a lot of time figuring out who EDwen really is as an artist, and I’ve realized that trying to fit into what people expect of me will never take me as far as being unapologetically myself. I believe authenticity is what ultimately creates a star.

I’ve also learned that everybody you meet in this industry isn’t necessarily your friend, and I had to learn that through experience. You can create something beautiful with someone and believe you’re going to be connected forever, only to realize that some people are meant to be part of a chapter, not the entire story. I’ve learned to appreciate people for the role they play in my journey without forcing every relationship to last forever.

Most importantly, I’ve learned that the journey doesn’t have to be perfect. Some doors close so others can open. Some roads take longer than others. Some performances won’t be my best, and some ideas won’t work the way I imagined. That doesn’t mean I’m failing. It means I’m still learning.

I’m still a student of my craft, and I think that’s one of the most important things I can be. I’m always learning, evolving, and becoming a better artist, performer, and person. I’ve learned to trust my timing, trust my vision, and keep going even when the path doesn’t look the way I thought it would.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/edwen
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamedwen?igsi=MTQybjB1eWk4NTRkaA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@iamedwendelect?si=hsXsaw2bgEKPZ5go