The Hardest Part

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. “Do...

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 th...

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 da...

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 coll...

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-fort...

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...

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 o...

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...

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...

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 conversatio...

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 find...

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 se...

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...

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...

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...

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, Lo...

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, explo...

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 challeng...

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, an...

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 journ...

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-wo...

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...

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...