Brazilian singer Alexia Evellyn made history as the first artist from her country to grace the stage of The Singer 2025 when she sang Whenever, Wherever on the eighth episode of the TV program on Friday. Dressed like a red elf, her unique and powerful voice earned a rousing round of applause.

"I felt very happy and free," Evellyn said of being on the stage in an exclusive interview with China Daily. "And that's the most important thing for me when I'm singing. It's not about technique, but about my heart. It was in the right place with the music and with the audience and with my dancing."

The singer hoped the audience would "feel free and loved" through her performance, especially with the song's opening lines celebrating cross-cultural connections: "Lucky you were born that far away so we could both make fun of distance …"

Evellyn, who blends her Brazilian roots with global influences, sees deep parallels between Chinese and Brazilian music. "And I think we have so much in common," she said, attributing it to her growth since being in the country.

Chinese culture's influence on her began well before the competition. Growing up, Mulan was her favorite movie. She said it was "not only because of the story itself, but also because of how she respects her family so much. So I grew up with this inspiration. How important it is for you to respect the old people, to respect your country, to respect your family." She also studies the Chinese language and traditional medicine, making the most of her opportunity in China.

Competing on The Singer 2025 has been a transformative experience for Evellyn. After watching traditional Chinese music, rap, and pop music, she praised the show's openness. For her, the challenge is about "evolving in a completely different environment and to keep testing my limits".

Evellyn remains eager to share more of her artistry. "I love China," she said. "I'm very excited to sing for you again."

Video by Zhu Youfang and Peng Yunfang / For chinadaily.com.cn