Grammy winners Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear bring fresh energy and personal connection to Moana 2 as the first all-female (and youngest) songwriting team to compose an entire Disney animated feature score.
When the call came to write original music for Moana 2, Grammy winners Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear couldn’t have been more excited. As longtime fans of the original Moana, the duo felt a deep connection to the beloved characters and a sense of responsibility to carry their stories forward through song.
Barlow, who was in high school when Moana hit theaters in 2016, described the opportunity as a "crazy honor." For both Barlow and Bear, the idea of creating songs that children around the world would eventually sing was a dream come true. As the first all-female songwriting team to create an entire Disney animated feature score, and the youngest composers to do so, their contributions bring a fresh, youthful energy to the sequel.
“It’s funny, because when we first got hired on this, I really was not that much older than Moana is in the story,” Bear says, reflecting on her personal connection to the character. “To be able to write for a peer and really identify our struggles and ourselves in her made it really easy for us to step into the shoes of Moana.”
In Moana 2, the title character has grown older and wiser - three years, to be exact - and is embarking on a perilous new journey across the seas of Oceania. Her mission is to unite communities through the farthest reaches of dangerous, uncharted waters. While Moana’s world has expanded, so has the music, which now reflects both her character’s evolution and the larger scope of the story.
Working alongside fellow composers Opetaia Foa‘i and Mark Mancina, both of whom bring their own rich musical legacies to the film, Barlow and Bear were able to contribute to a soundtrack that is not only dynamic but deeply integral to the story. According to producer Yvett Merino, “Music is always such an important part of all of our stories, whether it's a musical or not. Moana 2 is a stunning, sweeping musical. Its songs help move the story forward in such a special way.”
As Moana 2 broke box office records in its debut weekend, the musical impact of this album is undeniable. The film’s soundtrack, with its blend of familiar characters and new voices, offers a celebration of growth, adventure, and the timeless power of song - a truly unforgettable musical experience for all ages.