LONDON − Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear have truly redefined boundaries.

The talented songwriting duo, known as Barlow & Bear, has made history as the youngest and first all-female songwriting team for a Disney animated feature with “Moana 2.”

“It’s surprising that this hasn’t happened before,” Bear, 23, told YSL News. “Why aren’t more women sharing women’s stories? After all, who understands a girl’s perspective better than a girl!”

“Beyond” is not only the title of the central song for “Moana 2,” but also illustrates the ambitious and uncharted journey the Grammy-winning pair took while creating music for the film’s sequel (now in theaters). Additionally, the soundtrack includes a score by Grammy nominees Opetaia Foa’i and Mark Mancina, a three-time Grammy winner.

The songs composed by Barlow & Bear narrate Moana’s next adventure: After being honored as a wayfarer, Moana (voiced by Auli‘i Cravalho) embarks on a journey across expansive seas alongside the demigod Maui (Dwayne Johnson) and a quirky crew of sailors (including the rooster Heihei) to unite the people of Oceania.

“We want music to transport you,” Barlow, 26, expresses regarding their songs. “I hope you can feel the journey.”

From ‘Bridgerton’ to Disney: The Journey of Barlow & Bear

Barlow & Bear’s friendship predates their musical collaboration; they connected through a mutual friend in 2019.

“Having a friendship first established a solid foundation for us,” Bear comments. They soon realized they could create musical enchantment together, with Barlow being a singer-songwriter possessing exceptional pop music talent (“We love catchy hooks,” Bear adds).

On the other hand, Bear grew up showcasing her prodigious talent on the piano, first appearing on “The Ellen Show” at just six years old. She became Beyoncé’s pianist during the Renaissance World Tour in 2023 and has since been composing for films and TV shows, including Anderson .Paak’s “K-Pops!” and Netflix’s “Our Little Secret” featuring Lindsay Lohan.

Their creative styles fused seamlessly during the pandemic when they developed a passion for writing musicals, as Bear elaborates. This led to the creation of “The Unofficial Bridgerton Musical,” their viral production inspired by the popular Netflix show. What started as a playful project resulted in them becoming the youngest winners of the Grammy for best musical theater album in 2022 (that same year, Netflix settled a copyright dispute with Barlow & Bear).

“Bridgerton opened many opportunities for us,” Barlow reflects.

A year later, they were invited to collaborate with the creative team for “Moana 2.” “They approached our input with great respect,” Bear shares. Yet, transitioning from performing “Bridgerton” on TikTok to collaborating with Disney’s creators was a significant step.

Gaining Insights from Lin-Manuel Miranda Ahead of ‘Moana 2’

Barlow & Bear had immense expectations to meet. The soundtrack of the first “Moana” by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Foa’i, and Mancina amassed over 20 billion streams globally. They aimed not only to preserve the beloved aspects but also to infuse their authenticity into the characters and the narrative of a young woman discovering her identity.

Taking cues from their predecessors like Moana herself, Barlow sought advice from Miranda as they began their journey. He provided her with books from “the greats” on writing lyrics for musical theater, which she found “invaluable.”

“I had to completely reshape my approach,” Barlow explains. “For two and a half years, life became my classroom.”

Bear immersed herself in the original film’s music, drawing from an archive of samples from the first movie to connect with the unique sound of Te Vaka, the Oceanic musical group featured in both “Moana” films, using these audio elements to inspire new creativity.

“Incorporating a groove from Te Vaka into our song fundamentally altered how we crafted melodies, lyrics, and chords,” said Bear.

The New Film Shows a Growing ‘Moana’

The sequel shifts focus from introducing Moana to exploring her development.

For the first time, Disney allows Moana to age physically on screen, a departure from previous films featuring young female leads, according to Barlow. Her journey toward adulthood includes new friendships and complex emotions.

“We aimed to honor the cherished world we all adore, but three years have gone by,” Bear notes. “We want the beloved character to evolve just like we do.”

Moana has been given a wider vocal range to reflect her growth. The new song “Beyond,” reminiscent of classic Disney ballads, showcases this development: “There’s that thrilling moment when the orchestra builds, and she hits that high note; it’s truly exhilarating,” Bear explains.

The raps in “What Could Be Better Than This?” pay tribute to Miranda’s distinctive style and rhythm, while Maui’s upbeat tone in “Can I Get a Chee Hoo?” evokes the spirit of his well-loved solo from the first film, “You’re Welcome.”

Moana’s anxiety about veering off course is personified in her encounter with the character Matangi (Awhimai Fraser), who performs “Get Lost.”

“It’s a villainous anthem,” Barlow describes her favorite song from the movie.

The music blends sharp percussion with deep vibrations, crafting a sense of urgency that parallels Moana’s quest, filled with moments of both anticipation and the feeling of failure.

Moana’s journey involves confronting unfamiliar aspects of herself, a theme that resonates with both Barlow and Bear.

“It’s often in moments of being lost that you discover your true self,” Bear reflects.