In a heartfelt and inspiring conversation with songwriting duo Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear, I had the privilege of diving into their work on Disney’s Moana 2 and how they channeled their own experiences into creating music for a global audience. As lifelong Disney fans and groundbreaking creatives in musical theater, their journey from VHS tapes to the heart of the Mouse House is nothing short of cinematic.
From VHS to the Disney Vault
When asked what Disney movies they rewatched growing up, their answers overflowed with nostalgia. These films helped shape their early love for music, storytelling, and the wonder of animation.
“I think Little Mermaid was probably just a go-to for me.”
For Abigail, The Little Mermaid wasn’t just a movie—it was a ritual. This childhood favorite helped shape her love for melody, storytelling, and the magic of Disney princesses.
“I feel like the top three were Little Mermaid, Hercules, and Aladdin.“
Emily echoed a similar sentiment, giving a shoutout to a trio of Disney’s most musically iconic films. Her choices underscore her affinity for dynamic scores and strong character themes that would later inform her own songwriting.
“Although, I did watch Mulan a lot. Pocahontas too.”
Barlow’s expanded list further emphasized their deep connection to stories that blend cultural identity with empowerment and bold soundtracks. These films weren’t just entertainment—they were early masterclasses in musical narrative.
RELATED: Randall Park Dives Into the Netflix’s New Whodunit, THE RESIDENCE, and the Art of Comic Timing
The emotional gravity of working with Disney was not lost on them. Emily spoke candidly about the experience of joining the legacy of a studio that shaped their childhoods.
“Every day coming to this building was still, like even on the most stressful days, we’re like, wow, there’s just something magical about being here. I don’t know why I’m getting emotional right now, but it is everything, you know? Being a kid in the Disney generation and then getting to contribute to it for the next generation is something that I will be forever grateful for.”
This quote captures the awe and responsibility they carried with them throughout the creative process. For Barlow & Bear, working on Moana 2 was more than a gig—it was an act of generational storytelling.
Sequels and Staying True to the World
Crafting music for a sequel isn’t just a continuation; it’s an evolution. I asked how the pressure of following up such a beloved film shaped their creative choices when working on Moana 2.
“Sequels are hard because you can’t really fully recapture the magic of the first one. So, I think our sort of MO was, let’s have one foot in and one foot out. Let’s build on the world that’s already created, but allow the characters to grow, allow the sounds to expand.”
Here, Abigail explains their balancing act—respecting the original while bravely charting new creative territory. It’s a tricky needle to thread, but they approached it with humility and vision.
I followed up by asking about how character development informed their songs.
“You just kind of see how Chief Chewie grows and how Sina grows and how Moana grows.”
This line reveals how deeply they thought about character development. Rather than simply inserting songs, they composed music that supports each character’s arc and personal growth.
Writing for Moana, specifically, had a personal resonance for them both.
“We were able to step into Moana’s shoes pretty easily, which was a blessing. We loved writing for her.”
As young women navigating a big world, they saw themselves in Moana’s journey. Their emotional connection to her story helped produce music that feels raw, empowering, and deeply human.
Writing for The Rock: A Challenge and a Gift
One of the most fascinating elements of Moana 2 is its returning characters, including the larger-than-life Maui. I asked what it was like to write music for someone as iconic as Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.
“We’ve had a lot of incredible practice and time writing in different characters’ voices, and I do feel like that is the beauty of musical theater. Being able to put yourself in the shoes of someone else. Yes, we have more constraints and we have more guidelines, but that leads you to create something that you would have never done if you were just writing for yourself.”
Abigail’s insight shows their versatility as songwriters. Writing for someone like The Rock meant stepping outside themselves—and that led to unexpected breakthroughs.
Emily elaborated on how cultural and musical influences shaped their process.
“You would have never, like, put Jawaiian into a verse or write raps like that if we were just writing for ourselves or for someone who looks like us.”
This conscious adaptation of style, voice, and rhythm allowed them to create something authentic to the character of Maui while still staying true to their own creative instincts.
Learning to Let Go and Collaborate on Moana 2
I wanted to understand how working on a massive project like Moana 2 impacted their creative growth. Their answers revealed deep lessons in collaboration and adaptation.
“Life became a classroom for two and a half years, and I learned how to take notes, which was something I didn’t really know how to do before this whole experience. And I think being able to be part of such a huge, like, village of people that it takes to create a movie like this was something that my inner artist desperately needed to learn and to experience, because I was so used to just writing for myself or one other person, and when you serve a bigger purpose like this, there’s nothing more fulfilling than seeing it come to fruition.”
Emily opens up about the challenge—and reward—of growing as an artist in a team setting. Learning how to take feedback while preserving creative vision was key to their evolution.
Abigail added her thoughts on how the collaborative process shaped her creatively.
“We are a smoothie of our own experiences, and we learn so much. I learn so much story-wise, music-wise, how to fit into a giant team like this—over 500 people worked on this movie—and I will take that with me to every project that we work on in the future.”
Barlow’s metaphor of being a “smoothie” of experience captures how collaborative creativity shaped them. The scale of Disney sharpened their skills, but the heart stayed the same.
Experience the magic again now that Moana 2 is now streaming on Disney+ and available to bring home on 4K, Blu-Ray, and DVD.
About Moana 2
U.S. Release Date: Now Streaming on Disney+ and Available for Home Media
Directed by: David Derrick Jr., Jason Hand, Dana Ledoux Miller
Produced by: Christina Chen, Yvett Merino
Executive produced by: Jennifer Lee, Jared Bush and Dwayne Johnson
Music by: Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear, Opetaia Foa‘i, Mark Mancina
Voice Cast: Auli‘i Cravalho, Dwayne Johnson, Rachel House, Temuera Morrison, Nicole Scherzinger, Hualālai Chung, David Fane, Rose Matafeo, Awhimai Fraser, Gerald Ramsey, Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda
SYNOPSIS:
Walt Disney Animation Studios’ epic animated musical “Moana 2” reunites Moana (voice of Auli‘i Cravalho) and Maui (voice of Dwayne Johnson) three years later for an expansive new voyage alongside a crew of unlikely seafarers. After receiving an unexpected call from
Are You Ready for Moana 2? What song are you most excited to hear? Who should Barlow and Bear write for next? Share your thoughts, your food recs, and your favorite moments with us on social media.
KEEP READING: MOANA 2 REVIEW – A Captivating Return to the Seas with Stunning Visuals and Heartfelt Adventure
