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“Surface Pressure” Jessica Darrow
What was the recording process like for “Surface Pressure”?
They gave me so much room to be creative. I did three recordings, [and] the third time, I had a month’s space in between. I realized how much I needed to let myself lean into the lyrics. Lin-Manuel [Miranda] encouraged me to bring out the texture in my voice and what [the song] made me feel viscerally. The beautiful thing about Disney is that they touch on deep messages that will penetrate whether you realize it or not — especially with the writing of Lin-Manuel.
Did you expect this song to be such a big hit?
No! I just hoped that the message and [my character] Luisa resonated with people. I’m very grateful. It has brought music back into my life in an amazing way. I’m currently working on an EP. I wasn’t expecting that sentence to come out of my mouth anytime soon, but this movie has made a lot of sentences come out of my mouth that I never expected. I put together a single that I hope I can get out by the end of February, which will also come with a music video.
What has struck you most about the success of Encanto and its music?
How universal the message is, no matter what language it’s in. People understand why context is everything and why it’s so important to talk about how you’re feeling. I also think it’s amazing that Latinos are at the forefront. We rule the world. I love that in this representation of my Latino culture, you can find yourself regardless of where you come from. The colors, the food, the characters, the type of personalities: It’s what it means to coexist.