Dwayne Johnson revealed that he fully collaborated with wife Lauren Hashian for the first time as executive producers of ‘Moana: Voices Across the Ocean,’ the companion album to Disney’s new live-action film.
Details:
- The comments: ‘This is the first time we’ve really, really worked together,’ Johnson, 54, told People, calling Hashian, 41, ‘one of the greatest producers I’ve ever worked with… incredibly detailed, lights up a room, very sensitive and empathetic to creatives.’
- Where the idea came from: Hashian, a singer-songwriter, said she’d dreamed of a Moana-inspired album for years because ‘we listen to these artists every day,’ reviving the idea with Johnson as the live-action remake approached.
- What’s on the album: It opens with a new rendition of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s ‘We Know the Way’ by Dinah Jane and Stan Walker, and features Pacific Island artists including Maoli, Fatai and Paula Fuga, plus American Idol winner Iam Tongi, who joined Johnson on ‘Your Dad,’ a track the actor wrote about his daughters.
- The partnership dynamic: Johnson described his ideas as sometimes coming across ‘as a force,’ requiring a partner who can absorb it and say, ‘I don’t know about that. Can I share with you my thoughts?’ — adding with a laugh that his instinct is usually to insist his idea is good.
- The bigger picture: Much like Beyoncé’s 2019 ‘The Gift’ was inspired by ‘The Lion King,’ the Moana companion album gives lesser-known musicians a platform through Disney, which Johnson calls ‘an opportunity to really do something for the culture.’
What to Watch:
‘Moana: Voices Across the Ocean’ is out now, while the live-action ‘Moana,’ starring Johnson and Catherine Laga’aia, remains in theaters.
Source: People
