A version of this story about “La La Land” composers first appeared in the Nominations Preview issue of TheWrap’s Oscar magazine.
The most acclaimed movie musical since “Chicago,” Damien Chazelle’s “La La Land” features seven new songs, three of which are being pushed for the Oscars: John Legend’s “Start a Fire” and two from the team of composer Justin Hurwitz and lyricists Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, “City of Stars” and “Audition (The Fools Who Dream).”
What was the process of developing these songs like?
BENJ PASEK We were really lucky that Justin and Damien had already done a lengthy process of developing the melody for these songs.