The Hardest Part

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 months of anxiety and fear about becoming a burden turned into a creative outpouring. The band speaks candidly about the power of songwriting as emotional processing, how they instinctively built the song from a small demo, and how they recorded it with handmade tape loops in an Icelandic studio overlooking the ocean. They also reflect on burnout after their first record, how they reignited their creativity in a remote Yorkshire cottage, and why they now trust the flow of collaboration. This episode ends with an exclusive live acoustic version of “I’m Losing It,” recorded backstage at Bush Hall.   Guest: Chartreuse Host and Executive Producer: Kieron Banerji Show Mixed and Produced by: Kieron Banerji Mix Engineer: Max Walker Creative: Callum Baker Recorded at Bush Hall, London.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 the wake of his mother’s death. It’s a deeply personal piece, one that reflects the quiet complexities of grief, love, and the gaps left by what’s unsaid. Hrishikesh talks about the emotional expectations in his household, how his mother shaped his creative instincts, and the way music became his private outlet for feelings he wasn’t always encouraged to express. We hear about the inspiration and restraint behind “Between There and Here,” his approach to songwriting, and why telling his own story has often been harder than pulling stories out of others. For once, the man behind the questions becomes the subject — and what unfolds is a conversation about grief, identity, legacy, and the music that holds it all together. This special episode also features an exclusive acoustic version of the track, recorded just for the show   Guest: Hrishikesh Hirway of Song Exploder Host: Kieron Banerji Produced by Palm Tree Island Mix Engineer: Max WalkerSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 hardest to finish. They break down how Wizard Acid evolved piece by piece: from early voice memos and lost choruses to Bowie-inspired edits and haunted house energy. Along the way, they reflect on collaboration, overthinking, and the surprising value of returning to the first idea. Artist: Psymon SpineSong: “Wizard Acid”Album: Head Body Connector Host and Executive Producer: Kieron Banerji Recording Engineers: Max WalkerCreative Team: Callum Baker (Photography), Giovanni Almonte (Videography)Recording Studio: The Thin White Duke, London.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 rewrote it again and again—changing verses, adjusting melodies, pulling back—trying to make it more manageable. But every version felt wrong. We also talk about: How trauma can freeze the creative process When you know a song is too close to touch—but too important to ignore Why voice notes can become emotional time capsules And the challenge of singing something you’re still going through The episode closes with a stripped-back performance of “Ballad of a Broken Dream,” recorded live at The Thin White Duke in Soho, London. Artist: Elles BaileySong: “Ballad of a Broken Dream”Album: Beneath the Neon Glow Host and Executive Producer: Kieron Banerji Recording Engineers: Max WalkerCreative Team: Callum Baker (Photography), Giovanni Almonte (Videography)Recording Studio: The Thin White Duke, London.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 chasing technical polish nearly stripped the track of its emotional weight, and how they had to unlearn their habits in order to start again. The final version was built by embracing instinct, letting the form collapse, and trusting that songwriting didn’t need to be perfect to be meaningful. We talk about: Why they scrapped the original version after years of demos How harmony, rhythm, and “bad piano playing” helped reanimate the track What it means to write a song that’s falling apart by design How process panic, musical overthinking, and care can sometimes clash And why “Earth of Worms” had to be messy to make sense The episode ends with an exclusive stripped-back live performance of “Earth of Worms.” Artist: Adult JazzSong: “Earth of Worms”Album: So Sorry So Slow Host and Executive Producer: Kieron Banerji Recording Engineers: Max Walker & Chris GoldsmithCreative Team: Callum Baker (Photography), Giovanni Almonte (Videography)Recording Location: Thin White Duke Studios, London.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.