Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Older Sister Inspired Luisa’s Song In Encanto

Lin-Manuel Miranda reveals Luisa’s song in Encanto is a love letter and apology to his older sister, who grew up bearing burdens he never experienced.

Lin-Manuel Miranda has revealed that Luisa’s song “Surface Pressure” in Encanto was inspired by his older sister. Encanto premiered in theaters on November 24 and enraptured audiences with its tale of the Madrigal family. The Madrigals live in the Encanto, a magical place that has bestowed a unique gift upon each Madrigal child, except for youngest sister Mirabel. However, Mirabel soon becomes the only hope to save the magic of the Encanto and, more importantly, to save her family.

Encanto has received positive reception and has enthralled audiences with its beautiful soundtrack composed by Miranda. The story’s magic is further intensified by a soundtrack that weaves itself within the plot and makes the film a complete piece. Every song in Encanto is significant to the plot – many are ripe with Columbian influence, and some give deep insight into a particular character. Some of the songs are grand themes like “The Family Madrigal” or are intimate ballads that give insight into a specific character, such as Mirabel’s “Waiting on a Miracle.” One particular song held a meaning that went even deeper than the characters of the film.

Related: Every Lin-Manuel Miranda Movie Musical Ranked, Worst To Best

In an interview with Variety, Miranda revealed that Luisa’s song was his personal love letter and apology to his older sister. As a boy and the baby of the family, Miranda saw as a child how his older sister was dealt a tougher hand than him. Six years older than him, she faced the pressures and burdens of being the oldest child. He recalled one instance where his parents woke his sister up early on Christmas morning to have her assemble one of Miranda’s gifts so that he would have a special surprise when he woke up. Check out his statement below:

I’m the baby of the family. I have a sister who’s six years older, and she got a raw deal. That song is my love letter and apology to my sister for having it easier. I watched my sister deal with the pressure of being the oldest and carrying burdens I never had to carry. I remember my parents woke my sister up to put together a He-Man playset for Christmas before I woke up. They wanted it to be fully assembled when I woke up on Christmas morning. I put all of that angst and all of those moments into Luisa.

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