The Hardest Part
Hosted by Kieron Banerji, The Hardest Part dives deep into the most challenging songs ever written. Every two weeks, an artist joins Kieron in the studio to break down the struggles, breakthroughs, and raw emotions behind their toughest songwriting experiences. From overcoming creative blocks to tapping into painful memories, these conversations reveal the delicate balance between self-expression and self-protection. Each episode wraps with an exclusive live performance of the song—raw, real, and sometimes heard this way for the first time.
Episodes
Maddie Zahm on the Writing Process of "Meryl"
Maddie Zahm was watching Meryl Streep deliver "that is all" in The Devil Wears Prada when she had a realisation: "that's gay." On this episode of The Hardest Part with Kieron Banerji, she opens up "Meryl," a flirty, joyful, proudly queer song about loving older women. It's a conversation about honesty as a superpower: how she came out through a song she accidentally sent to her mom, why she
Castle Rat on Why Collaboration Made This Record Work
On this episode of The Hardest Part with Kieron Banerji, the band's songwriter and frontwoman opens up "Serpent," the song that fought her hardest on The Bestiary: the one where every band member hated a different part, and the only fix was to scrap everything but the lyrics and start again. It's a conversation about ego and letting go, the first genuinely collaborative Castle Rat album, tears in
Gently Tender on the song that took 3 years to write.
One of these songs took Gently Tender three years. The other took two minutes. On this episode of The Hardest Part with Kieron Banerji, Gently Tender's Sam Fryer and Francesca Brierley opens up "Staring at Fields" and "The City of the Beast," both from their upcoming album ,This Was Once Fields. It's a conversation about a lifelong Londoner mourning the city's lost magic, think the Astoria and Mad
HP #54: Little Dog Star on Leaving Acting for Music
Izzy Steele had a full-time job acting on a TV soap, and left it to chase music before she knew if it would work, one of the hardest decisions she ever had to make. On this episode of The Hardest Part with Kieron Banerji, Izzy opens up "Something Infinite," the title track of her EP: a song about the frustration that comes with ambition, that awkward middle part between leaving something safe and
HP #53: Pixie McCann on "Rotting": The Drunk Notes App That Became a Song
Pixie McCann convinced herself in a toilet that everyone hated her, and filled her Notes app with the evidence: "literally everyone here is rotten." Then she woke up, read it back, and decided... this is good content. On this episode of The Hardest Part with Kieron Banerji, she opens up "Rotting," the song that came out of that night, and the debut EP it belongs to. It's a conversation
HP #52: Show Me the Body: "See You Again"
On this episode of The Hardest Part with Kieron Banerji, Julian Pratt opens up "See You Again," from the band's new record: a song whose chorus, "I'll see you again, no grave or cemetery can keep you from me," was written for his mentor, San Diego hardcore legend Mike Down. After it was recorded, Julian's close friend passed. Now the song belongs to both of them. It's the rawest conversation
HP #51: Jamie Webster: "Small Town Life"
Jamie Webster joins Kieron Banerji on The Hardest Part to break down the writing, meaning and performance of his song “Small Town Life.” Jamie explains how years spent touring through towns across the UK inspired him to write a song celebrating the people, characters and communities that exist beyond the country’s biggest cities, places that might look imperfect from the outside,
HP #50: Le Ren: "Die Inside"
Le Ren almost threw this song away. On this episode of The Hardest Part with Kieron Banerji, she opens up "Die Inside" from her album Don't Be Funny Without Me, a song that was easy to write but hard to sing, about a crush that was never going to be reciprocated, and the strange courage it takes to perform the plain, un-metaphored truth. It's a conversation about honesty in songwriting: why singin
HP #49: Rosa Walton: "Halfway Round The World"
Rosa Walton spent over 18 months getting one song right. On this episode of The Hardest Part, Rosa opens up "Halfway Around the World" from her album Tell Me It's a Dream, her first attempt at a "straight-down-the-line" love song, and the hardest lyrics she's ever had to write. It's a conversation about craft: why literal songwriting scares her more than abstract imagery, how she knows the moment
HP #48: Tenderness: "Playing Country Roads"
Tenderness didn't find "Playing Country Roads" hard to write, she found it almost impossible to hold. On this episode of The Hardest Part with Kieron Banerji, she opens up the closing song from her album: written on her late father Ivor's guitar, built on a voice memo she couldn't bring herself to re-record, and carrying two griefs at once. It's a conversation about turning loss into art without l
HP #47: Julia Cumming on the Song That Scared Her to Write
In this episode of The Hardest Part, Kieron Banerji sits down with Julia Cumming to discuss “Please Let Me Remember This,” one of the most personal songs from her debut solo album Julia. What began as an attempt to write about the smallest possible moment gradually became something much bigger. Julia describes songwriting as visiting her subconscious, placing a cup into a flowing
HP #46: Ava Joe on Songwriting and Nostalgia.
In this episode of The Hardest Part, Kieron Banerji sits down with Ava Joe to break down the making of “Am I a Dreamer”, a song inspired by one of the most complicated emotions she experiences: nostalgia. Unlike most of her songwriting, which begins with a specific experience and the feelings that follow, this song started with an emotion. Ava set out to write about nostalgia it
HP #45: Metric on the Song That Defined the Album
In this episode of The Hardest Part, Kieron Banerji sits down with Metric to break down the making of “Victim of Luck”, the opening track from their latest album and the song that took longer to finish than any other. The challenge wasn’t writing it. The challenge was knowing when it was right. Emily and Jimmy Shaw tell Kieron how the song was intended to introduce the entire rec
#HP 44: Will White of The Maccabees on Writing Through Discomfort
In this episode of The Hardest Part, Kieron Banerji sits down with Will White to break down the making of “6:30 AM”, a song that became the catalyst for everything that followed. Unlike most of his work, the song stayed with him for years. That alone was unusual. Will describes a songwriting process where songs either arrive fully formed or disappear entirely. He rarely revisits unfini
#HP 43: Witch Fever on Christianity, misogyny, religious trauma, and making of “The Garden”
In this episode of The Hardest Part, Witch Fever break down the songwriting process and music production process behind “The Garden,” a song shaped by religious trauma, feminist rebellion, and the emotional tension of leaving the church behind. We talk about how the band nearly abandoned the song after feeling the chorus sounded “too Jesus-y,” triggering memories of Christi
HP #42: Lily Moore Breaks Down Grown Up Girl Regrets.
In this episode of The Hardest Part, Kieron Banerji sits down with Lily Moore to break down the making of “Grown Up Girl Regrets” and why it became one of the most important songs she has ever written. Written during her first studio session after lockdown, the song emerged from a period of uncertainty, isolation, and emotional exhaustion. Walking back into a writing room for the
HP #41: Young the Giant on Returning to the Spirit of Their Early Days
In this episode of The Hardest Part, Young the Giant break down the songwriting process and music production process behind “Different Kind of Love,” exploring how the band tried to return to the spirit of their first record. After years of touring, remote writing, adult responsibilities, and fragmented workflows, Young the Giant wanted to reconnect creatively by getting back into a ro
HP #40: Westerman on isolation, injury, and writing “Mosquito.”
What happens when you can’t move, can’t escape, and a song is the only thing you can build. In this episode of The Hardest Part, Kieron Banerji sits down with Westerman to break down the making of “Mosquito” from his 2025 album A Jackal’s Wedding. The song was written during a period of physical and emotional isolation, after Westerman tore his meniscus while tr
HP #39: Winter on the importance of finding the right tempo and key.
Sometimes the hardest part is not writing the song, it is making it feel right. In this episode of The Hardest Part, Kieron Banerji sits down with Winter to break down the making of “Misery” and how the song transformed completely in the studio. What started as a faster demo in a different key with only one verse became the longest and most complex process on the record. Through
HP #38: The Overjoyed on Writing About Mental Health, Isolation, and Bittersweet Songs.
In this episode of The Hardest Part, Kieron Banerji sits down with Athens-based band The Overjoyed to go behind the scenes of their track “Party Eyes,” exploring the songwriting process, music production, and the emotional realities that shaped it. The song begins with a deeply personal place: sleepless nights, hangovers, and the emotional comedown that can follow moments of exce
HP #37: Tigercub on Balancing Instinct and Editing in Songwriting
In this episode of The Hardest Part podcast, Tigercub break down the songwriting and creative process behind their track, "Fall In Fall Out". The track sits at the centre of their new album’s core tension, exploring contradiction, cycles, and the difficulty of articulating feelings that don’t fully make sense yet. Jamie explains how the song began with melody on acoustic guitar, before
HP #36: Madi Diaz on the songwriting process behind “Heavy Metal”
Sometimes the hardest part of songwriting is figuring out what you are actually feeling. In this episode of The Hardest Part, Kieron Banerji sits down with Madi Diaz to break down the making of her track “Heavy Metal” and the songwriting process behind it. The song began as a feeling she could not fully access while finishing her record, something unresolved that she knew was ther
HP #35: Sunflower Bean on writing “I Knew Love” in the studio.
What happens when you enter the studio with a song that is not finished and no time to figure it out? In this episode of The Hardest Part, Kieron Banerji sits down with Julia Cumming and Nick Kivlen of Sunflower Bean to break down the making of their track “I Knew Love” from the album Mortal Primetime. The song was one of the only tracks that was still being developed once the band ent
HP #34: Foy Vance Unpacks How Ego Affects Songwriters.
In this episode of The Hardest Part, Kieron Banerji sits down with Foy Vance to explore the realities of songwriting and the role ego plays in the creative process. The conversation focuses on how ego can shape, and sometimes block, the way songs are written. Foy reflects on the importance of stepping back, letting go of control, and allowing the song to take the lead rather than forcing it into a
HP #33: The Moment Sam Fischer Realized He Had to Keep This Song
In this episode of The Hardest Part, Kieron Banerji sits down with Sam Fischer for a behind the scenes look at the songwriting and music production behind his track “Sweet Contradiction.” The conversation dives deep into the songwriting process, the emotional reality of creating music, and how a studio writing session meant for another artist turned into one of Sam’s most persona
HP #32: Mariachi El Bronx on The Moment That Unlocked the Entire Album
In this episode of The Hardest Part, Kieron Banerji sits down with Matt from Mariachi El Bronx for a behind the scenes look at the songwriting and music production process behind their track “Songbird.” The conversation dives into studio life during the making of the band’s fourth Mariachi El Bronx record and how the song came together in a completely unexpected way. Unlike
HP #31: Dream Nails on Using Free Writing to Finish Their Hardest Song.
In this episode of The Hardest Part, Kieron Banerji sits down with Dream Nails to unpack the making of their track “The Information,” a song that went through multiple versions and nearly did not make the album. The band explain how the track began as free writing for a completely different idea before evolving through co-writing, shifting styles, and eventually returning to their post
HP #30 : Ulrika Spacek on Combining Two Songs Into One
What happens when two ideas don't fit — until they finally do? What does that process actually look like? In this episode of The Hardest Part, Kieron Banerji is joined by Ulrika Spacek to break down the making of their track “Weights and Measures.” The song began as two completely separate pieces. One was built around a heavy fuzz section. The other drew on early 2010s London ele
HP #29: Chartreuse Break Down a Song Born From Pain and Healing
How do you turn fear and anxiety into something creative? In this episode of The Hardest Part, Kieron Banerji sits down with UK band Chartreuse to unpack the story behind their song “I’m Losing It” — a deeply personal track written by vocalist Hattie following the news that she’d need major surgery at just 29, forcing her to relearn how to walk. Hattie shares how mont
HP #028 | Song Exploder’s Hrishikesh Hirway Breaks Down His Own Song
In this episode of The Hardest Part, host Kieron Banerji is joined by Hrishikesh Hirway — musician, composer, and creator of the iconic podcast Song Exploder. Known for helping artists dissect their songs and uncover the stories behind them, Hrishikesh does something rare in this conversation: he breaks down his own song — a track called “Between There and Here,” written in
Psymon Spine: “Wizard Acid” — Turning Five Demos into One Song
What do you do when you have five separate demos and no idea how they fit together? In this episode of The Hardest Part, host Kieron Banerji sits down with NYC psych-pop collective Psymon Spine to unpack the twisting, turbulent process behind their song Wizard Acid. Written remotely during the pandemic and born from five conflicting demos, the track became one of their most ambitious—and har
Elles Bailey: “Ballad of a Broken Dream” — When a Song Feels Too Personal to Record
In this episode of The Hardest Part, host Kieron Banerji sits down with Elles Bailey to unpack the long, personal, and painful process behind “Ballad of a Broken Dream,” a track that sat in her voice notes for over five years before she could face recording it. Originally written after an emotional phone call, the song felt too raw, too unresolved, to finish. Elles shares how she rewro
Adult Jazz: “Earth of Worms” — When Perfection Gets in the Way of Songwriting
In this episode of The Hardest Part, host Kieron Banerji is joined by Adult Jazz to unpack the long and winding process behind “Earth of Worms,” one of the most technically complex and emotionally unruly songs on their album So Sorry So Slow. The song had been in progress for nearly seven years, and at one point, it was too clean—too correct. The band talks openly about how chasi
Deep Sea Diver: “Shovel” — How to Rebuild a Song That’s Falling Apart
In this episode of The Hardest Part, host Kieron Banerji sits down with Deep Sea Diver at Third Man Records in Soho to unpack the complicated road behind their track “Shovel.” It started out as the easiest song they’d ever written—and nearly became the one that didn’t make the record at all. The band explains how the song went through multiple versions, two cities, an
Sophie Jamieson: “How Do You Want to Be Loved?” — Songwriting and Honesty
In this episode of The Hardest Part, host Kieron Banerji sits down with Sophie Jamieson to explore the writing of “How Do You Want to Be Loved?”, a delicate and emotionally loaded song from her album I Still Want To Share. Unlike many of her songs, this one had a clear emotional target from the start — written for someone close to her, while navigating a mix of love, frustration,
Anna B Savage: “Donegal” — Writing Through Creative Block and Emotional Uncertainty
In this episode of The Hardest Part, host Kieron Banerji is joined by Anna B Savage to unpack the long and winding process behind “Donegal,” a standout from her album You and i are Earth. Anna reflects on her changing relationship to songwriting—from the painstaking process behind her early work to a more forgiving, open approach that still carries its own challenges. “Done
Famous: “Leaving Tottenham” — The Technical Challenge of Confessional Writing and the Fear It Might Not Matter
In this episode of The Hardest Part, host Kieron Banerji is joined by London band Famous to unpack the writing of “Leaving Tottenham,” a climactic and emotionally charged track from their debut album Party Album. The band’s frontman opens up about the long and often painful process behind the song—one that wrestled with personal embarrassment, grand ambition, and the f
Masma Dream World: “Please Come to Me” — Sound as Ritual, Trusting the Process, and Surviving the Threshold
In this episode of The Hardest Part, host Kieron Banerji sits down with Devi Mambouka, the artist and music producer who performs as Masma Dream World, to explore the deeply spiritual and emotionally raw process behind the making of her art. Unlike traditional songwriting, Devi's process is entirely intuitive—a sonic ritual guided by the goddess Kali, whose presence she channels through dail
Folk Bitch Trio: “Sarah” — How to Bring a Song Back from the Brink — and the Importance of Brutal Honesty in Songwriting
In this episode of The Hardest Part, host Kieron Banerji is joined by Australian group Folk Bitch Trio to reflect on the long, messy road to finishing “Sarah,” a song that was nearly cut from their debut album Now Would Be a Good Time. What began as a heartbreak-fueled acoustic track quickly became the most difficult song to finish—emotionally, technically, and collabor
Bria Salmena: “Closer to You” — Creative Blocks, Remote Recordings, and a Chorus That Wouldn’t Land
In this episode of The Hardest Part, host Kieron Banerji is joined by Bria Salmena to unpack the winding creative journey behind “Closer to You,” a standout track from her debut solo album Big Dog. Written across two cities—Bria in Los Angeles, Duncan Hay Jennings in Toronto—the song came to life through long-distance collaboration and relentless back-and-forth. W
Jack Garratt: “Mara” — Making Peace with the Voice in Your Head
In this episode of The Hardest Part, host Kieron Banerji is joined by singer, songwriter, and producer Jack Garratt for a deeply introspective conversation about his track “Mara” from the album Love, Death & Dancing. Jack opens up about the emotional and psychological weight that followed his debut album, and how “Mara” became a turning point—a song that
Efterklang: "Getting Reminders" — How a Mother’s Guitar and Lisbon’s River Shaped a Song
In this episode of The Hardest Part, host Kieron Banerji sits down backstage at The Barbican with Casper Clausen of Danish band Efterklang to dive into the quiet evolution of their track “Getting Reminders,” from the album Things We Have In Common. Unlike their typical in-the-box production style, “Getting Reminders” grew slowly and organically — first as a sketch on
Ashaine White: "Hotel" — Seeing Her Mother Clearly Through Song
In this episode of The Hardest Part, host Kieron Banerji is joined by Ashaine White to explore the emotional and creative depths of her song “Hotel.” Ashaine opens up about how the track was sparked by a phrase she often heard growing up: “You treat this house like a hotel.” At the time, it felt like a criticism — one that stirred up rebellion, anxiety, and a desire f
The Amazons: "Black Magic" & "Joe Bought a Gun" — Matt Thomson on The Amazons’ Songwriting Journey
In this episode of The Hardest Part, host Kieron Banerji is joined in the studio by Matt Thomson of The Amazons to unpack the creative journey behind two defining songs: “Black Magic” and “Joe Bought a Gun.” Matt reflects on the early days of writing “Black Magic,” a track that first came together when the band were teenagers. Born from heartbreak and shaped by
Ora Cogan: "Crickets"
In this episode of The Hardest Part, host Kieron Banerji is joined in the studio by musician Ora Cogan to explore the intricate journey behind her song "Crickets." Ora shares how the song took shape over an extended period, written across multiple landscapes—including New Mexico, the Pacific Northwest, and Italy—all of which left a deep imprint on its sound and themes. The conversation
Amahla: "Apathy"
In this episode of The Hardest Part, host Kieron Banerji is joined in the studio by Amahla to explore the creation of her song "Apathy." The conversation delves into the deeply personal journey behind the track, touching on themes of emotional overwhelm, detachment, and the vices people turn to when life becomes too difficult. Influenced by folk and gospel music, Amahla shares her process of findi
Canty: "hahaha"
In this episode of The Hardest Part, host Kieron Banerji sits down with Canty to explore the emotional depth behind his track "hahaha." Canty opens up about the personal struggles he faced during this period, from navigating the challenges of the music industry to dealing with personal health issues. He shares how these experiences shaped the song, which captures a paradoxical blend of joy and ser
Molly Payton: "You're On Your Own This Time, Again"
In this episode of The Hardest Part, host Kieron Banerji sits down with singer-songwriter Molly Payton to explore the journey behind her song "You're On Your Own This Time, Again." Molly opens up about the deeply personal inspiration for the track, which reflects on her father’s arrest when she was 18. She shares how finishing the song years later became a cathartic process, allowing her to
Rosie Lowe: "Gratitudes"
In this episode of The Hardest Part, host Kieron Banerji sits down with Rosie Lowe to explore the story behind her song "Gratitudes." Rosie recounts the intense and challenging journey of creating the track during a session in Berlin with her collaborator D'Monk. She shares the frustration of losing the original session due to a power cut and the eventual acceptance that led to creating something
Kiioto: "Wild Geese"
In this episode of The Hardest Part, host Kieron Banerji is joined by Rohan and Lou from the band Kiioto to discuss the challenges behind their song "Wild Geese." The conversation explores the complexities of balancing individual creativity within both a romantic and professional partnership. Rowan and Lou share how the song evolved from its initial concept, "Goldfinch," into the final version of
Lexie Carroll: "laundry detergent"
In this episode of The Hardest Part, host Kieron Banerji sits down with singer-songwriter Lexie Carroll to discuss her track "laundry detergent." Lexie opens up about the challenges she faced in creating the song, delves into her songwriting process, how she collaborates with her producer, and the real-life events that inspired her heartfelt lyrics. Recorded at Thin White Duke Studios in Soho, Lon
SOFY: "Pirates"
In this episode of The Hardest Part, host Kieron Banerji welcomes singer-songwriter SOFY to discuss the personal journey behind her song "Pirates," featured on her upcoming 2025 record. Marking a shift in her songwriting approach, SOFY explains how "Pirates" moves from observational storytelling to a more autobiographical perspective. She opens up about the emotions that inspired the track, explor
Tim Atlas: "Out Cold"
In this episode of The Hardest Part, host Kieron Banerji sits down with Brooklyn-based singer, songwriter, and producer Tim Atlas to delve into the story behind his track "Out Cold" from his 2024 album Enchanté. Tim reflects on how the song took shape during his time in Brooklyn, weaving together themes of trust issues and the lingering effects of past relationship trauma. He shares the challenges
Los Bitchos: "Don't Change"
In this episode of The Hardest Part, host Kieron Banerji is joined by the multi-national band Los Bitchos to explore the evolution of their track "Don't Change." Formed in London in 2017, the band shares the intricate journey of refining one of their earliest demos over the course of four years. They discuss the challenges they faced in restructuring the song, collaborating with Alex Kapranos, and
Our Girl: "Something About Me Being A Woman"
In this episode of The Hardest Part, host Kieron Banerji is joined by Soph Nathan from the band Our Girl to explore the creative process behind their powerful track "Something About Me Being A Woman" from their 2024 release, The Good Kind. The conversation delves into the emotional intensity behind the song, which stems from frustration and anger. Soph shares insights into the songwriter's journey
Loren Kramar: "Hollywood Blvd"
In this episode of The Hardest Part, Loren Kramar joins host Kieron Banerji to explore the creative journey behind his music. The conversation focuses on the transformation of a personal monologue into the song "Hollywood Blvd" from the 2024 album Glovemaker. Loren shares insights on working with his producer Sean O'Brien, integrating live band elements, and the deeper themes of fame and self-wort
Morgan Harper-Jones: "Main Character"
The inaugural episode of The Hardest Part featuring musician Morgan Harper Jones explores the story behind her challenging songwriting process, especially for the song 'Main Character.' Hosted by Kieron Banerji, the episode delves into Morgan's battle with writer's block and the pressure of creating music under a deadline, which ultimately led to a raw, authentic outpour of her experiences and emo
Introducing: The Hardest Part.
Welcome to "The Hardest Part," a new podcast from Palm Tree Island that’s all about peeling back the layers of some of the most challenging songs ever written. In this show, host Kieron Banerji explores the challenges faced by artists in writing their most difficult songs. Each week features an artist who discusses and performs their hardest song to write, tackling themes like creative blocks, pa
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