This project is an encounter between two of the greatest English singer-songwriters, each a genius of his time and both renowned for beautiful melancholy. Nick Drake, who achieved little critical success during his lifetime, has since been widely acclaimed for his hauntingly beautiful music, influenced by poets such as William Blake, William Butler Yeats, and Henry Vaughan. Although he died in 1974 at the age of just 26 years, Drake left behind a musical legacy that “throbs with [an] aching beauty” (Rolling Stone). Born almost 400 years earlier, John Dowland is best known for his melancholy songs of the English Renaissance, which express profound emotion and intricate artistry. This project also explores the romantic texts and the vibrant rhythms of Brazilian Bossa Nova, connecting the melancholic tones of Dowland and Drake with the dynamic musical innovations of artists like Powell, Jobim, and Bonfa.