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PODCAST

The Hardest Part

Palm Tree Island

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,

music music commentary

All Episodes

18:19

Deep Sea Diver: “Shovel” — How to Rebuild a Song...

The Hardest Part ·

2025/10/29

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, and nearly three scrapped attempts. They talk about trying to hold together wildly different

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23:47

Sophie Jamieson: “How Do You Want to Be Loved?” —...

The Hardest Part ·

2025/10/15

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, and grief. It wasn’t just a songwriting challenge. It was a personal risk: how do you tell the

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17:47

Anna B Savage: “Donegal” — Writing Through Creative...

The Hardest Part ·

2025/10/01

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. “Donegal” took over two years to finish, shaped by periods of creative block, ongoing emotional

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17:43

Famous: “Leaving Tottenham” — The Technical Challenge...

The Hardest Part ·

2025/09/17

In this episode ofThe 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 frustration of trying to make private feelings mean something beyond the self. “Leaving Tottenham”

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22:23

Masma Dream World: “Please Come to Me” — Sound as...

The Hardest Part ·

2025/09/03

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 daily meditation, field recordings, and unplanned studio improvisation. She describes the act not as

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18:38

Folk Bitch Trio: How to Bring a Song Back from the...

The Hardest Part ·

2025/08/20

In this episode ofThe 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 albumNow Would Be a Good Time. What began as a heartbreak-fueled acoustic track quickly became the most difficult song to finish—emotionally, technically, and collaboratively. Written in isolation, reworked through voice memos, and road-tested live, “Sarah” was put to

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15:07

Bria Salmena: “Closer to You” — Creative Blocks,...

The Hardest Part ·

2025/08/06

In this episode ofThe 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 albumBig 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. What started as an acoustic skeleton became a hybrid of organic and electronic textures, reshaped again and again as

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27:27

Jack Garratt: “Mara” — Making Peace with the Voice in...

The Hardest Part ·

2025/07/23

In this episode ofThe 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 albumLove, 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 helped unlock not just the record, but a new understanding of himself. Written during a time of quiet struggle and

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18:16

Efterklang: "Getting Reminders" — How a Mother’s...

The Hardest Part ·

2025/07/09

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 Casper’s mother’s old guitar in his Lisbon studio, then as a living, breathing piece shaped

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20:14

Ashaine White: "Hotel" — Seeing Her Mother Clearly...

The Hardest Part ·

2025/06/25

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 for independence. But as she matured and moved into her own space, the phrase took on new meaning,

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19:55

The Amazons: "Black Magic" & "Joe Bought a Gun" —...

The Hardest Part ·

2025/06/11

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 years of experimenting, the song laid the foundation for the band’s layered and instinct-driven

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24:14

Ora Cogan: "Crickets"

The Hardest Part ·

2025/03/06

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 delves into the challenge of translating her connection to the natural world into music, as well as the

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21:16

Amahla: "Apathy"

The Hardest Part ·

2025/02/20

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 finding her voice and the guilt that comes with tuning out from the world's problems. She also reflects on

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14:47

Canty: "hahaha"

The Hardest Part ·

2025/02/14

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 seriousness. The conversation delves into the ways laughter can mask deeper emotions and how music became

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17:29

Molly Payton: "You're On Your Own This Time, Again"

The Hardest Part ·

2025/01/23

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 navigate complex emotions and understand its impact on both her relationships and music career. The

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23:43

Rosie Lowe: "Gratitudes"

The Hardest Part ·

2025/01/09

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 entirely new. Reflecting on this experience, Rosie discusses the valuable life lessons it taught her

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25:51

Kiioto: "Wild Geese"

The Hardest Part ·

2024/12/17

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 "Wild Geese," showcasing their dynamic and collaborative creative process. The episode also highlights

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15:56

Lexie Carroll: "laundry detergent"

The Hardest Part ·

2024/11/21

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, London, the episode concludes with a full performance of "laundry detergent." Artist: Lexie CarrollSong:

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22:36

SOFY: "Pirates"

The Hardest Part ·

2024/11/14

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, exploring the complexities of a friendship on the verge of becoming something more. SOFY also shares insights

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16:44

Tim Atlas: "Out Cold"

The Hardest Part ·

2024/11/12

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 he faced and insights into the creative process behind this deeply personal track. The episode wraps up

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