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Behind The ‘Moana 2’ Soundtrack: How Barlow & Bear Captured the Pacific Spirit

For the creation of the ‘Moana 2’ soundtrack, songwriters Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear honored Pacific Island traditions by listening and learning.

This article is sponsored by Disney Entertainment.

Stepping into the musical world of Moana was daunting. Still, with a mix of confidence and self-awareness, songwriters Mark Mancina to acknowledge the existing world, while pushing the characters and the music forward.

“If you think back to yourself from 16 to 19… you’re a completely different person,” Bear said, highlighting the need for lyrical evolution, which echoes the growth that the main character herself has experienced in the time between the two films.

But how do you approach the musical DNA of the many cultures of the Pacific Islands? Barlow and Bear dove headfirst into research, armed with a giant binder affectionately dubbed the “Moana Bible.” This, along with collaboration with Foa‘i, known for founding the band Te Vaka, and a t Spotify playlist, formed the foundation of their Pacific Islands musical education.

They aimed to deepen the connection to Polynesian culture, incorporating authentic instruments, chants, and vocal styles. The process included extensive research and a focus on crafting songs that not only advanced the narrative but also resonated emotionally with audiences, building upon the beloved musical foundation established in the first film.

Bear added, “The best way to learn about a type of music that you’re not wildly familiar with is a lot of listening. When you listen to a lot of things, you can pick out the structures that they like to gravitate towards, the harmonics that they like, what kind of grooves they lean towards, all those things.”

Moana 2

Abigail Barlow & Emily Bear, Opetaia Foa’i, Mark Mancina

2025

Stage & Screen,Soundtrack

Vinyl, Album

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However, immersion went beyond just the music. Barlow and Bear sought guidance from the film’s Oceanic Cultural Trust, a group of Pacific Islands cultural experts, ensuring their creative choices remained respectful and authentic. They even delved into the psyche of wayfinders, drawing inspiration from their experiences for tracks like “Can I Get A Chee Hoo?.”

The soundtrack’s creation was a collaborative voyage, with Barlow and Bear working alongside directors, writers, producers, and artists. The process involved numerous revisions and discarded songs, a testament to the often arduous film scoring process.

For Barlow and Bear, the payoff is worth it. “It’s an honor. I get to see my nephews singing the songs over the holidays, and that’s the cake for me, you know? I’m just enjoying it. To know that little girls and boys around the world are singing the songs — that’s the win,” Barlow said.

Bear echoed this sentiment, saying, “I feel like it doesn’t really sink in that it’s actually happened until I get a random video pop up on TikTok of some girl singing the song in the car or a friend sending me a video of his kid knowing every single word.”

Moana 2 is now available for streaming on Disney+. You can pick up the soundtrack on vinyl from Discogs.