Bustle Mixtape
As they make Disney history, the Grammy-winning duo shares what inspires their work.
In 2020, Abigail Barlow and Emily Bears career prospects felt a little bleak.
But during the pandemic, things slowed down.
That was literally three days before Abigail and I startedBridgerton.
For example,when Moana singsWhat lies beyond / Under skies Ive never seen?
/ Will I los myself between / My home and whats unknown?
The universe has plans for you that supersede what you see for yourself sometimes.
Its important to just trust the process.
Barlow:It surprised me how many lives a song takes on before it gets locked.
Bear:The steps involved are pretty insane.
What does your ideal creative environment look like?
Bear:I have beef with whoever decided that studios need to be a dark little cave.
I love a studio with windows and a comfy couch and a nice ambiance, and its cozy.
Whenever I step into one of those caves, I have no idea what time of day it is.
And theres LED lights everywhere,why?!
Barlow:See, this is where we diverge because I love a good LED light.
I love to feel like Im in outer space.
On that note, how do you handle creative differences of opinion?
But if it still bugs me in a week, Im going to say something about it.
Barlow:Sometimes it gets changed, and other times we forget it happened.
On Taking The Ton By Storm
Youre no stranger to going viral.
Is that something youre conscious of while writing?
Bear:Im a big believer in not writing to create a viral moment.
After the fact, weve been like, Oh, maybe that could take off.
But we cant predict virality.
MyFor You pageis so weird.
I dont know how the algorithm works, and I dont care to anymore.
I learned through theUnofficial Bridgerton Musicalexperience that I can trust my instincts when it comes to my tastes.
If I like it, somebody else is going to like it.
What else didThe Unofficial Bridgerton Musicalteach you about musical storytelling and yourselves as creators?
It also taught me about collaboration and what it means to be a partner.
Bear:I learned so much from that experience.
It feels like the beginning of an era of loving musical theater and having it be our everything.
On Their Listening Habits
Whats the first music you remember buying?
Barlow:Probably Taylor Swift,Fearless.
That was the first actual CD I remember putting in a CD player and listening to in its entirety.
Were entering Spotify Wrapped season.
What do you expect will top your most-listened-to list this year?
Bear:Its got to be either Yebba or, randomly, Minnie Riperton.
Im a huge lover of Minnie Riperton everything that shes ever made.
Barlow:I was a power-pop girl this year: Charli XCX, Sabrina Carpenter, Chappell Roan.
Whats a Disney song that hypes you up to this day?
[Both start singing, Ill Make a Man Out of You.]
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
