Overview of Moana’s Music Team
The songs for Moana are performed by a combination of the film’s starring voice cast, featured artists, and ensemble choir members working alongside songwriters and composers. The principal vocal performances you hear on key tracks come from the onscreen character performers and recording artists brought in for the soundtrack. Below is a detailed breakdown of who sings the most prominent songs and how the music team was assembled.
Primary Voices and Song Credits
In Moana, the title character sings several of the film’s central songs, with her voice provided by actress Auli‘i Cravalho. Cravalho, who originated the role on screen, performs multiple tracks, including the anthem “How Far I’ll Go,” which plays over the opening credits and serves as the emotional centerpiece of the story. Additional character vocals are handled by Nicole Scherzinger, who voices Sina, Moana’s mother, and contributes to the family and village songs. The larger choral arrangements and tribal chants are performed by a mix of session singers and the film’s dedicated choir ensemble, supervised by the music team to ensure cultural authenticity and narrative cohesion.
Songwriters Behind the Film’s Soundtrack
While performers bring the songs to life, the melodies and lyrics were created by a team of acclaimed songwriters and composers. The music for Moana was primarily written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Opetaia Foa‘i, and Mark Mancina. Miranda, known for his work on In the Heights and Hamilton, contributed several key songs, collaborating closely with Foa‘i, the frontman of the band Te Vaka, whose Polynesian musical roots heavily influenced the film’s sound. Mancina, a veteran film composer, shaped the score, tying the songs and orchestral music together to support the film’s narrative arc.
| Song / Track | Primary Performer(s) | Songwriters |
|---|---|---|
| How Far I’ll Go | Auli‘i Cravalho | Lin-Manuel Miranda, Opetaia Foa‘i, Mark Mancina |
| We Know the Way | Auli‘i Cravalho, Nicole Scherzinger, Choir | Lin-Manuel Miranda, Opetaia Foa‘i, Mark Mancina |
| Shiny | Jemaine Clement | Lin-Manuel Miranda |
| Tamatoa’s Lair / Ocean Aside | Jemaine Clement, Auli‘i Cravalho | Lin-Manuel Miranda, Opetaia Foa‘i, Mark Mancina |
| I Am Moana (Song of the Ancestors) | Jennifer Loree, Opetaia Foa‘i, Miranda, Mancina, choir | Lin-Manuel Miranda, Opetaia Foa‘i, Mark Mancina |
Featured Artists and Cultural Performers
Moana’s soundtrack also features several notable featured artists and cultural practitioners who helped ground the music in authentic Polynesian traditions. Opetaia Foa‘i performs on several tracks and contributes choral arrangements that reflect his heritage and firsthand knowledge of traditional sounds. The film’s choir includes regional and ethnic singers selected for their connection to the Pacific cultures represented in the story. These performers are credited as background vocalists and ensemble members on tracks such as “We Know the Way” and “I Am Moana (Song of the Ancestors),” ensuring the soundtrack reflects the communal and ancestral themes of the film.
Grammy Recognition and Achievements
The music for Moana received widespread critical acclaim and earned several major awards and nominations, reflecting the strength of both the performing and songwriting teams. “How Far I’ll Go” was nominated for multiple accolades, including an Academy Award for Best Original Song and a Golden Globe. The soundtrack album reached high positions on national charts, with the performers and songwriters sharing recognition as a cohesive unit. These achievements underscore the coordinated effort between vocalists, composers, and cultural advisors in creating a lasting musical identity for the film.
Behind the Scenes: Recording Process and Collaboration
Recording for Moana’s songs involved close collaboration between performers in Los Angeles, songwriters spread across multiple time zones, and cultural experts consulted to preserve language and pronunciation accuracy. Sessions layered lead vocals, harmonies, and choral elements to achieve the expansive, cinematic sound heard in the film. Auli‘i Cravalho worked extensively with the music team to capture the emotional tone of Moana’s journey, while seasoned artists like Jemaine Clement added character-driven vocal flair for roles like Tamatoa. The process blended modern recording techniques with traditional Pacific influences, creating a soundtrack that feels both contemporary and rooted in heritage.
Enduring Impact of the Moana Soundtrack
Years after the film’s release, the songs for Moana continue to resonate with audiences through streaming, stage adaptations, and live concerts. Auli‘i Cravalho remains closely associated with the anthem “How Far I’ll Go,” frequently performing it at events and in new contexts that highlight its universal themes of self-discovery. Lin-Manuel Miranda and Opetaia Foa‘i have referenced the Moana writing process as a benchmark for culturally informed storytelling in musical theater and film. The combination of principal performers, choir, and cultural consultants ensures that the soundtrack remains a reference point for how music can elevate character-driven storytelling.