Musical Analysis - Surface Pressure
Surface Pressure Written by Lin-Manual Miranda for the Disney film Encanto released in 2021, the song relates the internal struggle experienced by the strongest member, Luisa, of the multi-generational Madrigal family living together in one house, La Casita. Luisa is both blessed and cursed with immense strength. As such, there are burdens placed upon her, labors she is expected to complete, a never ending list of duties, feats ever increasing in number and magnitude, the assignment to which she never acquiesced, yet she simply grins and bears her lot, with nary a hair out of place on that gorgeous head that graces the top of that tree trunk of a neck. But under the surface... The song starts in a slow, low, and strong tone, exuding an element that confirms Luisa's outward appearance, the harmony that is created as the lyrics and low frequency timbre of the instruments come together affirm her station and demonstrate her own confidence in her ability.