The Hardest Part

The Hardest Part is a deep dive into the hardest songs artists have ever written—whether emotionally, creatively, or personally. Host Kieron Banerji sits down with musicians to unpack the stories behind these songs, exploring the creative process, lyrical depth, production process, and cultural influences. Each episode ends with a raw, stripped-back performance—often heard this way for the first time.

Produced by Palm Tree Island, a London-based creative studio behind standout podcasts, series, and documentaries built on powerful stories and original voices.

Kieron Banerji is a London-based producer and engineer with deep experience across music, broadcast, and media. He’s worked with Grammy and Academy Award winners including Portugal. The Man, Jason Isbell, Katie Melua, Rae Morris, Baio (Vampire Weekend), Julia Jacklin, BROODS, and Dave Keuning (The Killers).

Elles Bailey: “Ballad of a Broken Dream” — When a Song Feels Too Personal to Record

Elles Bailey: Ballad of a Broken Dream — Live Performance on The Hardest Part: Season 2

Elles Bailey: “Ballad of a Broken Dream” — When a Song Feels Too Personal to Record

Adult Jazz: “Earth of Worms” — When Perfection Gets in the Way of Songwriting

Adult Jazz: Earth of Worms — Live Performance on The Hardest Part: Season 2

Adult Jazz: “Earth of Worms” — When Perfection Gets in the Way of Songwriting

Deep Sea Diver: Shovel — Live Performance on The Hardest Part: Season 2

Deep Sea Diver: “Shovel” — How to Rebuild a Song That’s Falling Apart

Sophie Jamieson: How Do You Want to Be Loved? — Live Performance on The Hardest Part: Season 2

Sophie Jamieson: “How Do You Want to Be Loved?” — Songwriting and Honesty

Anna B Savage: This Song Took Me Two Years to Finish — And It Still Scares Me

Anna B Savage: Donegal — Live Performance on The Hardest Part: Season 2

Anna B Savage: “Donegal” — Writing Through Creative Block and Emotional Uncertainty

Famous: Leaving Tottenham — Live Performance on The Hardest Part: Season 2

Famous on Love, Time, and Why He’s No Longer Afraid of Death

Famous: “Leaving Tottenham” — The Technical Challenge of Confessional Writing

Masma Dream World: Live Performance on The Hardest Part: Season 2

Masma Dream World on Divine Possession, Survival, and Sound as Ritual

Masma Dream World: “Please Come to Me” — Sound as Ritual and Trusting the Process.

Folk Bitch Trio: Sarah — Live Performance on The Hardest Part: Season 2

Folk Bitch Trio: The Importance of Brutal Honesty in Songwriting

Folk Bitch Trio: “Sarah” — Bringing a Song Back from the Brink and the Honesty When Songwriting

Bria Salmena: Closer to You — Live Performance on The Hardest Part: Season 2

Bria Salmena: “Closer to You” — Creative Blocks, Remote Recordings, and a Chorus That Wouldn’t Land

Jack Garratt: Mara — Live Performance on The Hardest Part: Season 2

“I See You, Mara” — Jack Garratt Breaks Down the Song That Saved Him

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