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 Bailey
Song: “Ballad of a Broken Dream”
Album: Beneath the Neon Glow

Host and Executive Producer: Kieron Banerji

Recording Engineers: Max Walker
Creative Team: Callum Baker (Photography), Giovanni Almonte (Videography)
Recording Studio: The Thin White Duke, London.

In this episode of The Hardest Part, host Kieron Banerji sits down with Elles Bailey to unpack the long, personal, and painful process behind &ldquo;Ballad of a Broken Dream,&rdquo; 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&mdash;changing verses, adjusting melodies, pulling back&mdash;trying to make it more manageable. But every version felt wrong.
We also talk about:
<ul data-start="1003" data-end="1247">
<li data-start="1003" data-end="1049">
How trauma can freeze the creative process
</li>
<li data-start="1050" data-end="1124">
When you know a song is too close to touch&mdash;but too important to ignore
</li>
<li data-start="1125" data-end="1179">
Why voice notes can become emotional time capsules
</li>
<li data-start="1180" data-end="1247">
And the challenge of singing something you&rsquo;re still going through
</li>
</ul>
The episode closes with a stripped-back performance of &ldquo;Ballad of a Broken Dream,&rdquo; recorded live at The Thin White Duke in Soho, London.
Artist: Elles Bailey Song: &ldquo;Ballad of a Broken Dream&rdquo; Album: Beneath the Neon Glow
Host and Executive Producer: Kieron Banerji
Recording Engineers: Max Walker Creative Team: Callum Baker (Photography), Giovanni Almonte (Videography) Recording Studio: The Thin White Duke, London.

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, and sometimes heard this way for the first time.

Follow the Hardest Part wherever you get your podcasts, and watch footage from the show on our YouTube and socials.

Hosted by Kieron Banerji,&nbsp;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&mdash;raw, real, and sometimes heard this way for the first time.
Follow the Hardest Part wherever you get your podcasts, and watch footage from the show on our YouTube and socials.

The Hardest Part

Hosted by Kieron Banerji, The Hardest Part dives deep into the most challenging songs ever written. Every week, 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, and sometimes heard this way for the first time.

Follow the Hardest Part wherever you get your podcasts, and watch footage from the show on our YouTube and socials.

Hosted by Kieron Banerji, The Hardest Part dives deep into the most challenging songs ever written. Every week, 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, and sometimes heard this way for the first time.
Follow the Hardest Part wherever you get your podcasts, and watch footage from the show on our YouTube and socials.

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