How Moana 2's Music Will Be 'Darker': 'There's a Lot of Deeper Layers to These Songs,' Says Auli'i Cravalho

Auli'i Cravalho and Moana have grown side by side.

The actress returns as the titular Motunui princess in the long-awaited animated sequel Moana 2, and told Entertainment Weekly in a new cover story about the film that it showcases "a new part of my voice" — and her character's, as well.

"I haven't explored this kind of depth with Moana before," says Cravalho, 23, who had just turned 16 years old when the first movie premiered in 2016.

And "this film," she said, "digs into these low notes in these times of indecision when we don't know what we are supposed to do next."

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"There's a lot of deeper layers to these songs," Cravalho noted.

Among the new songs are "I Want" and "Beyond," the latter of which composer Emily Bear told EW "is a little bit darker than" Moana's famous Lin-Manuel Miranda-written anthem "How Far I'll Go" from the first movie, "because the stakes are suddenly so much higher" for the character.

"She's about to make a big decision that will affect the rest of her life," explained Bear, 23. "She knows more of the world and what's out there, so she knows what to expect — and that could be scary."

Per an official synopsis from Disney, Moana follows the titular character after she receives “an unexpected call from her wayfinding ancestors” and journeys “to the far seas of Oceania and into dangerous, long-lost waters for an adventure unlike anything she’s ever faced.”

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Directed by David Derrick Jr., Jason Hand and Dana Ledoux Miller, the sequel will feature original characters such as Moana and demigod Maui — the latter voiced once again by Dwayne Johnson.

Back in July, Cravalho told PEOPLE that she feels thankful for getting to be a big part of Moana 2, noting that the character is "growing" and "pushing herself now even further beyond the reef."

The Hawaii native went on to say that over the past nearly eight years since the first movie's release, she "felt like I grew right along with" Moana.

"The recording booth is truly my happy place, and [I'm grateful to] come back to this character that I know so well, but also take her on a completely different journey," Cravalho added at the time.

Moana 2 is in theaters Nov. 27.