The long-awaited sequel to Disney’s Moana (2016), Moana 2, premiered in theaters on November 27, 2024.
The film continues the journey of Moana (Auliʻi Cravalho), Maui (Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson), and others as they embark on an exciting new adventure, featuring a fantastic lineup of music that enhances the storytelling.
While the original film had music composed by Lin-Manuel Miranda, he did not return for Moana 2, leading many fans to wonder: Who wrote the music for Moana 2?
Who wrote the songs in ‘Moana 2’?
Meet Barlow & BearThe songs in Moana 2 were composed by Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear, collectively known as Barlow & Bear.
They made history as the youngest composers ever to create music for a Disney animated film and as the first all-female writing team to achieve this milestone, according to their official website.
Together, Abigail and Emily are a powerhouse, having co-written the musical adaptation of the Bridgerton series. Emily is a pianist, performer, and composer, who played piano on Beyoncé’s Renaissance World Tour in 2023, and her music is featured in the 2024 Netflix holiday film Our Little Secret, starring Lindsay Lohan and Ian Harding.
As for Abigail, she’s a highly sought-after pop songwriter for major label artists, an actress, and an independent artist with over 20 million streams, as noted on their website. She recently released the single “Modern Day Madonna.”
Why didn’t Lin-Manuel Miranda compose ‘Moana 2’ music?
Lin-Manuel Miranda did not compose the music for Moana 2, even though he was responsible for the original film’s score.
The reasons for his absence in the sequel’s music composition remain unclear, but he still played a part in the musical process by collaborating closely with Barlow & Bear.
Olekanma Favour is a resourceful, self-motivated, and result-driven writer with a passion for crafting compelling narratives and insightful content. She loves tackling complex topics and weaving engaging stories.
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