South African songstress to be featured on local in-cinema soundtrack of Disney’s latest animated feature
Disney Africa is proud to announce that South African singer-songwriter and performing artist Lira, has recorded her own version of How Far I’ll Go, from Disney’s upcoming animation comedy adventure film Moana.
Lira’s recording will feature on the South African version of the film as the first end-credit song when Moana hits cinemas from Friday 2 December nationwide. In addition, fans will be able to purchase the single from the South Africa iTunes Store from 9 December. For the track, Lira recorded a special music video and behind the scenes exploration that delves into how the track came to life.
“How Far I’ll Go beautifully encapsulates the elements of Moana that resonate with me, to break away from conformity, to be bold, go out and discover what makes you uniquely you,” says Lira. “It’s a real honour to be involved! Also, the fact that Disney is able to incorporate and feature African voices in projects such as this, is truly exciting.”
How Far I’ll Go is written by Tony®-, Emmy®- and Grammy®-winning lyricist/composer Lin-Manuel Miranda, who counts among his credits Broadway’s Pulitzer Prize-winning and multiple Tony-winning “Hamilton” and the Tony-winning “In the Heights” who, when commenting on the track says “This is Moana’s chance to say for herself how she feels and where she belongs.”
“We are delighted that Lira has lent her world-class talent and distinctively beautiful voice to How Far I’ll Go”, says Christine Service, Senior Vice President and Country Manager of The Walt Disney Company Africa. “Bringing her voice to the cinematic release of Moana adds a wonderful local dimension to this universal story of finding one’s true self. We are thrilled to be able to collaborate with Lira to bring this unique recording to South African families.”
Moana, Walt Disney Animation Studios’ 56th Animated Feature, is a sweeping, CG-animated feature film about an adventurous teenager who is inspired to leave the safety and security of her island on a daring journey to save her people. Inexplicably drawn to the ocean, Moana (voice of Auliʻi Cravalho) convinces the mighty demigod Maui (voice of Dwayne Johnson) to join her mission, and he reluctantly helps her become a wayfinder like her ancestors who sailed before her. Together, they voyage across the open ocean on an action-packed adventure, encountering enormous monsters and impossible odds, and along the way, Moana fulfills her quest and discovers the one thing she’s always sought: her own identity.
Fans can check out the Music Video and Behind the Scenes on Disney’s Facebook Page (www.facebook.com/DisneyinAfrica) and catch Lira’s performance of How Far I’ll Go as the credits roll in Disney’s Moana, which hits South African cinemas nationwide from 2 December 2016. The single will be available to purchase on the South Africa iTunes Store from 9 December. #LiraMoana
