Who wrote the music for Encanto, and how are film credits distributed between composers and songwriters? Encanto’s songs and score fuse Colombian musical roots with Broadway storytelling, earning widespread acclaim and awards. This evergreen explainer clarifies credits, creative roles, and how the film’s music supports story, character, and theme.
The Film Score: Primary Composer and Musical Architecture
The score of Encanto is primarily composed by Germaine Franco. She worked closely with directors Byron Howard and Jared Bush to translate the emotional arc of the Madrigal family and the Colombian setting into instrumental music. The score supplies tension, wonder, location cues, and rhythmic drive that underpin action, magic set pieces, and quieter character moments. While the songs carry most lyrics and vocal identity, the score binds narrative continuity, color, and pacing across the feature-length runtime.
Songs and Lyricists: Credits by Track
Encanto songs are credited to specific songwriters and performers. Understanding the division between score and songs clarifies common confusion about who wrote which part of the soundtrack.
Key Song Credits and Writers
| Song | Primary Composer(s) | Lyricist(s) | Performer(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| ‘The Family Madrigal’ | Lin-Manuel Miranda | Lin-Manuel Miranda | Stephanie Beatriz and cast |
| ‘Waiting on a Miracle’ | Lin-Manuel Miranda | Lin-Manuel Miranda | Adassa |
| ‘Dolores’ | Lin-Manuel Miranda | Lin-Manuel Miranda | Jessica Darrow |
| ‘We Don’t Talk About Bruno’ | Lin-Manuel Miranda | Lin-Manuel Miranda | Carolina Gaitán, Mauro Castillo, Adriana Madera, Rhenzy Feliz, Diane Guerrero, Stephanie Beatriz |
| ‘All of You’ | Lin-Manuel Miranda | Lin-Manuel Miranda | Stephanie Beatriz, John Leguizamo |
| ‘Colombia, Mi Encanto’ | Lin-Manuel Miranda | Lin-Manuel Miranda | Carlos Vives |
| ‘Dos Oruguitas’ | Lin-Manuel Miranda | Lin-Manuel Miranda | Sebastián Yatra |
| ‘Surface Pressure’ | Lin-Manuel Miranda | Lin-Manuel Miranda | Jencarlos Canela |
Beyond songs, Germaine Franco leads the score team. The official soundtrack album typically lists Lin-Manuel Miranda as songwriter for tracks where he wrote both music and lyrics, and Germaine Franco for score cues, with additional music contributors credited on album notes.
Creative Leadership and Department Roles
Film music credits can include composer, songwriter, additional music, and score producer. Lin-Manuel Miranda served as songwriter across multiple tracks, contributing music and lyrics that seamlessly integrate with Franco’s score. In live-action remakes and hybrid musical features, songwriters often collaborate early to align musical storytelling with character and plot beats.
- Composer (score): Germaine Franco
- Primary songwriter (songs): Lin-Manuel Miranda
- Additional music contributors: Album notes and press materials list orchestrators, conductors, and score supervisors who support the final soundtrack.
How Music Serves Story and Character
Germaine Franco’s score uses instrumentation, harmony, and rhythm to mirror the Madrigal home’s shifting dynamics, from bustling chases to intimate revelations. Lin-Manuel Miranda’s songs advance plot, expose inner life, and crystallize themes of identity, pressure, and belonging. Songs like ‘We Don’t Talk About Bruno’ function as narrative devices that compress backstory and foreshadow events, while the score maintains momentum across location shifts and magical sequences.
Verification and Credit Sources
Credits are drawn from official studio materials, press kits, and recognized industry databases, including the film’s title sequence and widely circulated soundtrack listings. These sources confirm primary attribution for score (Germaine Franco) and songs (Lin-Manuel Miranda) while acknowledging ensemble vocals and additional production support. For the most precise credit details, consult the on-screen credits and official soundtrack metadata.