The Trailblazing Duo: 5 Facts About The Songwriters Who Replaced Lin-Manuel Miranda For Moana 2

The highly anticipated musical sequel, *Moana 2*, has sailed into theaters and broken box office records, but the biggest buzz behind the scenes centers on the monumental change in its musical creative team. As of today, December 12, 2025, the full details of the film's soundtrack have been revealed, confirming that the original songs were penned by a fresh, history-making duo, not the original film’s powerhouse songwriter, Lin-Manuel Miranda. This transition has sparked intense curiosity among fans: who are the new voices shaping Moana’s next adventure, and how do they measure up to the legacy of "How Far I'll Go" and "You're Welcome"?

The answer lies in the dynamic partnership of Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear, two Grammy-winning artists who have taken the musical world by storm with their unique, modern approach to composition. While the film benefits from the crucial return of original composers Mark Mancina and Opetaia Foaʻi, who ensure the continuation of the film’s authentic Polynesian musical heart, Barlow and Bear were tasked with creating the new, original songs that drive the narrative. Their involvement marks a significant moment for Disney, introducing a new generation of talent to one of its most beloved franchises.

The History-Making Duo: Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear Biography & Profile

Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear are not just a songwriting team; they are a cultural phenomenon who leveraged the power of social media to achieve unprecedented success. Their journey to becoming the principal songwriters for a major Disney animated feature is a modern Hollywood fairy tale.

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Abigail Barlow (Songwriter, Vocalist):

• Role in *Moana 2*: Co-wrote original songs.
• Background: A skilled singer and lyricist known for her captivating vocal performances and ability to craft emotionally resonant narratives.
• Breakthrough: Gained massive viral fame on TikTok during the COVID-19 pandemic by creating original songs inspired by the popular Netflix series *Bridgerton*.
• Key Achievement: Co-created *The Unofficial Bridgerton Musical*.

Emily Bear (Composer, Pianist, Arranger):

• Role in *Moana 2*: Co-wrote original songs and handled much of the musical arrangement.
• Background: A prodigious pianist and composer who began performing professionally at a very young age. Bear has an extensive background in classical and jazz composition.
• Breakthrough: Appeared on *The Ellen DeGeneres Show* and has performed at major venues worldwide. Her compositional work is recognized for its sophistication and depth.
• Key Achievement: Co-created *The Unofficial Bridgerton Musical*.

Joint Career Highlights:

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• Grammy Award: In 2022, Barlow & Bear won the Grammy for Best Musical Theater Album for *The Unofficial Bridgerton Musical*. This made them the youngest-ever winners in that category and the first artists to win a Grammy for an album created on TikTok.
• Disney Debut: *Moana 2* is their first time writing for a major feature film.
• Historical Significance: They are the first all-female, and youngest, songwriting duo to score a full Disney animated feature.

The End of an Era: Why Lin-Manuel Miranda Was Not Involved

The biggest question on every fan's mind was the absence of Lin-Manuel Miranda, the celebrated creator of *Hamilton* and the genius behind the infectious tunes of the first *Moana*. Miranda’s songs, including the Oscar-nominated "How Far I'll Go" and Dwayne Johnson's showstopper "You're Welcome," defined the original film's sound and became global hits.

Miranda himself has provided a clear explanation for his non-involvement, which had nothing to do with creative differences or scheduling conflicts in the traditional sense. The primary reason is rooted in the film’s unexpected development process.

Originally, *Moana 2* was conceived and developed as a Disney+ television series, not a theatrical feature film. The production team, including the songwriters, was already in place before the project was upgraded to a major movie release. Miranda stated that there was "never an opportunity to be on *Moana 2*" because the team, including Barlow and Bear, had already been hired to write the songs for the series that became the film.

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Furthermore, Miranda was deeply involved in writing the music for another major Disney project: the prequel *Mufasa: The Lion King*. He has been entirely supportive of the new team, expressing that he is "thrilled" by the success of the sequel and the work done by Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear. This passing of the torch is seen by many as a gracious endorsement from one musical legend to a new generation of talent.

Maintaining the Legacy: The Return of Mancina and Foaʻi

While the new original songs are the work of Barlow & Bear, the overall musical landscape and the crucial cultural authenticity of *Moana 2* are preserved by the return of two key figures from the original film: composer Mark Mancina and co-songwriter Opetaia Foaʻi. Their involvement ensures that the sequel’s music retains the powerful blend of traditional Disney orchestration and authentic South Pacific rhythms that made the first film a masterpiece.

Mark Mancina: The Orchestral Backbone

Mancina, a veteran film composer known for his work on *Tarzan* and *The Lion King*, returned to compose the film's score. The score is the instrumental music that underlies the action and emotional moments, weaving the songs together. Mancina’s expertise provides the sweeping, cinematic scale necessary for a Disney epic, ensuring the music feels grand and emotionally resonant. His work is essential for the film's overall sound design and thematic continuity, bridging the gap between the original and the sequel.

Opetaia Foaʻi: The Voice of the Pacific

Opetaia Foaʻi is the founder and lead singer of the Oceanic music group Te Vaka. His contribution to the first film was invaluable, grounding the soundtrack in genuine Polynesian musical traditions, chants, and vocal styles. Foaʻi's return was critical for maintaining the cultural integrity of the music. He is credited as a composer and co-songwriter, meaning his influence is deeply embedded in the music's core, ensuring the sequel's songs and score honor the rich musical heritage of the Pacific Islands. This continuity is a vital topical authority point for the franchise, ensuring the music is not just catchy but also respectful and authentic.

The combination of Mancina’s score, Foaʻi’s cultural music, and Barlow & Bear’s modern songwriting sensibility creates a fascinating and complex musical tapestry. The returning composers provide a familiar foundation, while the new songwriters inject a fresh, contemporary energy, appealing to both long-time fans and a new, younger audience. They had the challenging task of creating new songs that could stand alongside the iconic tracks of the first movie, a feat they approached with reverence for the source material and their own distinct flair.

The New Musical Direction: Barlow & Bear's Unique Style

Barlow and Bear's signature style, honed during their creation of *The Unofficial Bridgerton Musical*, is characterized by a strong focus on character-driven lyrics, theatrical pop sensibilities, and complex, yet accessible, musical structures. Their ability to quickly capture a character's emotional state and translate it into a compelling musical number was a key factor in their selection for *Moana 2*.

The new songs in *Moana 2* reportedly lean into a more contemporary Broadway-pop sound, while still being mindful of the Pacific setting. This is where the collaboration with Opetaia Foaʻi becomes paramount—he helps to infuse the modern pop structures with traditional Oceanic instrumentation and vocal harmonies, preventing the music from sounding too generic. Fans have noted that the new songs, while perhaps not immediately as universally catchy as "Shiny" or "How Far I'll Go," are deeply effective in advancing the plot and exploring the deeper emotional journey of Moana as she faces new challenges and discovers new lands.

The transition from a legendary songwriter like Lin-Manuel Miranda to a new, younger duo was a risk for Disney, but it was a calculated one. It signals a willingness to embrace new talent and new methods of music creation, such as the viral success model that brought Barlow & Bear to prominence. Lin-Manuel Miranda’s defense of the new songwriters highlights the mutual respect within the creative community, confirming that the change was a creative decision rooted in the film's unique path to the big screen, not a rejection of his original work.

The *Moana 2* soundtrack, released digitally on November 22, with a physical release set for January 10, 2025, is a testament to the power of collaboration across generations and genres. It successfully continues the musical journey of Moana by blending the familiar, authentic sounds of the Pacific with the exciting, fresh voices of two of music's most promising new songwriters. The resulting album is a vibrant, 16-track experience that solidifies the franchise's topical authority in Disney's modern musical canon.