Naya Yeira on Rock Bottom, Hitting Record & Starting Again

"When you're at a low point, there's nowhere to go but up — and when you're down there, you might as well hit record." On this episode of The Hardest Part with Kieron Banerji, Naya Yeira opens up "hit record" — a song written at rock bottom, about refusing to be embarrassed in pursuit of something, with sad lyrics deliberately hidden inside an upbeat beat. It's a conversation about an artist building herself in real time: creating in a vacuum while searching for her sound and her message; writing from a beat up with producer Sean Hamilton, and why uncovering a song with someone feels safer than bringing one in; the Doja Cat-inspired vocal versatility (talking lows, singing highs) and the stacks and stacks of harmonies to listen for; Ed Sheeran's "clearing the tap" and writing through the ideas that don't stick; and a genuinely distinctive vision beyond the music — projector installations, 2am park shoots bathed in red light, fabric and fans on stage — because she wants you to enter a world, not just hear a song. Plus the line of the episode: "If I sing about boys until I'm 40, have I lived?" Then Naya Yeira performs "hit record" live in the studio. 00:00 "You might as well hit record" 00:54 Rock bottom, pointing up 01:48 In the room: a beat, a melody, a vacuum 03:48 Hiding behind upbeat beats 05:16 Doja Cat & vocal versatility 06:33 Clearing the tap: ideas that don't stick 07:51 The multidisciplinary vision 10:09 The nuance: the delicate pre & stacked harmonies 11:21 Projectors, red parks & entering a world 13:21 Live Session: hit record - The Hardest Part dives deep into the most emotionally complex songs ever written. Every two weeks, host Kieron Banerji sits down with artists to unpack the creative process behind their hardest songs—exploring songwriting breakdowns, emotional storytelling, cultural influences, and moments of personal growth. Each episode ends with an intimate, stripped-back performance—raw, real, and sometimes heard this way for the first time. Produced by Palm Tree Island, a London-based creative studio known for standout music documentaries and original voices. Kieron Banerji is a seasoned producer and engineer based in London with extensive experience in music, media, and entertainment. He’s worked with Grammy and Academy Award winners, and has recorded sessions with Portugal. The Man, Jason Isbell, Katie Melua, Rae Morris, Jason Mraz, BROODS, Baio (Vampire Weekend), and more. 🎧 Follow the Podcast: https://linktr.ee/thehardestpart - #NayaYeira #songwriting#musicpodcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.