When Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear took on the position of songwriters for “Moana 2,” they didn’t simply stage up by way of the visibility of their careers. They made historical past. The 26 and 23-year outdated songwriters, finest recognized for his or her work on the Grammy-winning “Unofficial Bridgerton Musical” album, are the youngest songwriters to work on a Disney animated movie, succeeding Lin-Manuel Miranda of their work on the sequel to the 2016 fantasy journey hit. They’re additionally the primary feminine songwriting duo, following within the footsteps of Disney legends like Howard Ashman and Alan Menken to place their very own stamp on the adventures of the believed Polynesian princess.
Barlow and Bear obtained the Breakthrough Award on the 2024 IndieWire Honors occasion, which was held at Citizen Information in Los Angeles on Thursday, December 5. Accepting the award, Barlow and Bear gave a speech saluting music’s energy to inform tales that matter and cross boundaries that resonate with all audiences.
“Music is a approach to navigate the world,” Bear stated throughout her acceptance speech at IndieWire Honors. “It has the unimaginable capacity to cross boundaries, to make folks really feel seen, and inform tales that phrases alone can not seize. Abigail and I began writing music collectively as a result of we had been drawn to tales that had one thing to say, and since we believed in one another’s capacity to say them.”
Throughout their speech, Bear and Barlow additionally acknowledged the work they put into this breakthrough second, and the years of effort it took to get them to this present place of their careers.
“Being a lady on this business is hard at instances, however issues like this are a reminder of how far we’ve come, and the way a lot is feasible,” Bear continued. “This award is just not a few breakthrough second, however concerning the lengthy winding street that bought us right here and the work that lies forward.”
“Being two younger ladies within the business may be overwhelming, intimidating, generally slightly scary,” Barlow stated within the speech. “However awards like this, and corporations like Disney encourage and empower us to proceed on creating and talking up for ourselves and our artwork.”
The 2 concluded their speech by thanking their administration crew and the folks at Disney who made “Moana 2” attainable, earlier than Barlow concluded by thanking IndieWire for the award.
“By means of ‘Moana 2’ and the unimaginable village it took to make that movie attainable, I discovered {that a} princess is any woman or lady who can command a room and has one thing to say,” Barlow stated. “And I do know we each have, and really feel like princesses tonight. Thanks a lot.”
Watch Barlow and Bear’s full speech above, and take a look at all of our IndieWire Honors protection proper right here.
“Moana 2” is in theaters now.