5 Questions with Ana Everling previewing her concert with Brazilian composer Guinga August 21, 2025

We caught up with Ana Everling ahead of her very special evening with renowned Brazilian composer Guinga, who will make a rare artistic appearance at Constellation Chicago on August 21, 2025.

Here are five quick questions with Ana that highlight why this event is truly one-of-a-kind.

CJM: Ana, tell us about your upcoming performance with Guinga—what makes this collaboration special, and what can the audience expect to experience at Constellation Chicago?

Everling: This collaboration brings Guinga - one of Brazil’s most original and influential living composers - to the Chicago stage in an intimate setting. His music has shaped generations of musicians, weaving together Brazilian traditions like choro, modinha, and baião with classical sophistication and jazz sensibility. To share the stage with him is not just an honor - it’s a dialogue across cultures, traditions, and generations.

What makes this event especially unique is the cultural exchange format: alongside the concert, there will be a free workshop where Guinga will share his creative process and stories behind his compositions. 

At Constellation, the audience can expect a multi-sensory experience: Guinga’s breathtaking guitar work and storytelling, my vocals, and contributions from Chicago videographers, who will project visuals created for this performance. It’s not just a concert, but a chance to step inside Guinga’s world, to experience Brazilian music as it resonates with jazz and global artistry.

CJM: Do you remember the first time you heard Guinga’s music, and how has his work influenced or inspired you as an artist?

Everling:  Yes, it's the first time I heard "Senhorinha", and the way it starts, on a Gmaj7 chord that opens up so beautifully with the vocal part, like a veil lifting, completely enchanted me. He also keeps interrupting the resolutions in the song, constantly shifting the tonal center, "cradling" the sound, like a pleasant carousel. From a singer's perspective the harmonies are as complex as any jazz piece, and once you internalize it, the harmony lifts the voice - giving a singer countless opportunities for color, resonance, and emotion. Also for me Guinga's music is a chance to explore full dramatic range - almost like opera, but condensed into popular song. You’re not just “singing” the notes; you are "embroidering" the notes with your voice, which is very satisfying.

CJM: Beyond Guinga, who are some of the other artists or composers that have shaped your musical journey and artistic voice?

Everling: Enescu, Brahms, Jobim, Legrand, Piazzola, Milton, Silvia Perez Cruz, Keith Jarrett, Maria Tanase, Laurie Anderson

CJM: Preparing for such a rare collaboration must be unique—how did you prepare for this performance?

Everling: Preparation is never just about the music, unfortunately. It begins with logistics - securing the venue, organizing travel, building a budget, coordinating press and promotion. Only once those pieces are in place I can dive into the repertoire. That said, I’ve been practicing daily, studying Guinga’s works with the care they demand. His music is harmonically intricate and emotionally vast, so even with the challenges of organizing, I made space every day to inhabit the songs. In some ways, this dual role - artist and producer - makes the music even more personal. Without the chance to rehearse directly with the composer, I’ve had to rely on deep mental preparation, letting the music take shape in my imagination before it comes fully alive on stage.

CJM: When you’re not making music, what’s something fun or unexpected that you enjoy doing that might surprise your fans?

Everling: Photography. I am very introspective, passionate and obsessed with visuals and aesthetics. I study myself, photograph myself and the things around me, I enjoy design and open spaces, objects. I enjoy being around people with talents, with vision, people I can learn from and take inspiration from. 

Don’t miss this rare and intimate performance with Ana Everling and Guinga at Constellation Chicago on August 21, 2025—a night celebrating artistry, inspiration, and the timeless beauty of Brazilian music.

For More Information and Tickets Visit www.anaeverling.com/guingainchicago