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 "Wild Geese," showcasing their dynamic and collaborative creative process. The episode also highlights the intricacies of their songwriting, the importance of creating space within their music, and the diverse themes they explore beyond personal relationships.


Artist: Kiioto

Song: "Wild Geese"

Host and Producer: Kieron Banerji

Recording Engineer: Max Walker

Creative Team: Callum Baker and Giovanni Almonte

Recording Studio: The Thin White Duke, London

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 "Wild Geese," showcasing their dynamic and collaborative creative process. The episode also highlights the intricacies of their songwriting, the importance of creating space within their music, and the diverse themes they explore beyond personal relationships.
 Artist: Kiioto
Song: "Wild Geese"
Host and Producer: Kieron Banerji
Recording Engineer: Max Walker
Creative Team: Callum Baker and Giovanni Almonte
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.

Kiioto: "Wild Geese"

In this episode of The Hardest Part, Kieron Banerji sits down with Foy Vance to explore the realities of songwriting and the role ego plays in the creative process. The conversation focuses on how ego can shape, and sometimes block, the way songs are written.

Foy reflects on the importance of stepping back, letting go of control, and allowing the song to take the lead rather than forcing it into a preconceived idea. They discuss the balance between confidence and humility in songwriting, and why some of the best work happens when you stop trying to prove something and start listening more closely to what the song actually needs. 

This is a thoughtful discussion about creativity, process, and what it really takes to write something honest and meaningful.

 

Guest: Foy Vance

Host and Executive Producer: Kieron Banerji

Creative: Callum Baker

Recording Engineers: Giovanni Alimonte

Mix Engineer: Max Walker

In this episode of The Hardest Part, Kieron Banerji sits down with Foy Vance to explore the realities of songwriting and the role ego plays in the creative process. The conversation focuses on how ego can shape, and sometimes block, the way songs are written.
Foy reflects on the importance of stepping back, letting go of control, and allowing the song to take the lead rather than forcing it into a preconceived idea. They discuss the balance between confidence and humility in songwriting, and why some of the best work happens when you stop trying to prove something and start listening more closely to what the song actually needs.&nbsp;
This is a thoughtful discussion about creativity, process, and what it really takes to write something honest and meaningful.
&nbsp;
Guest: Foy Vance
Host and Executive Producer: Kieron Banerji
Creative: Callum Baker
Recording Engineers: Giovanni Alimonte
Mix Engineer: Max Walker

HP #34: Foy Vance Unpacks How Ego Affects Songwriters.

In this episode of The Hardest Part, Kieron Banerji sits down with Sam Fischer for a behind the scenes look at the songwriting and music production behind his track “Sweet Contradiction.” The conversation dives deep into the songwriting process, the emotional reality of creating music, and how a studio writing session meant for another artist turned into one of Sam’s most personal songs.

From the first lyrical idea to the final acoustic performance, Sam breaks down how the song came together and why the theme of contradictions became the core of the track.

 

Guest: Sam Fischer

Guitar: Marton Bisits

Host: Kieron Banerji

Produced by: Palm Tree Island

Creative: Callum Baker

Engineers: Giovanni Almonte and Max Walker

Recorded at The Thin White Duke Studios, London.

In this episode of The Hardest Part, Kieron Banerji sits down with Sam Fischer for a behind the scenes look at the songwriting and music production behind his track &ldquo;Sweet Contradiction.&rdquo; The conversation dives deep into the songwriting process, the emotional reality of creating music, and how a studio writing session meant for another artist turned into one of Sam&rsquo;s most personal songs.
From the first lyrical idea to the final&nbsp;acoustic performance, Sam breaks down how the song came together and why the theme of contradictions became the core of the track.
&nbsp;
Guest: Sam Fischer
Guitar: Marton Bisits
Host: Kieron Banerji
Produced by: Palm Tree Island
Creative: Callum Baker
Engineers: Giovanni Almonte and Max Walker
Recorded at The Thin White Duke Studios, London.

HP #33: The Moment Sam Fischer Realized He Had to Keep This Song

In this episode of The Hardest Part, Kieron Banerji sits down with Matt from Mariachi El Bronx for a behind the scenes look at the songwriting and music production process behind their track “Songbird.”

 The conversation dives into studio life during the making of the band’s fourth Mariachi El Bronx record and how the song came together in a completely unexpected way. Unlike the rest of the album, “Songbird” did not exist as a demo. It emerged in the studio after bandmate Vincent Hidalgo shared a fast, melodic guitar idea that immediately sparked something new.

Matt explains how, after ten years between records, the pressure to write had created what he describes as a “traffic jam” in his head. There was no shortage of ideas, but too many thoughts competing at once made it difficult to translate them into lyrics. That one new musical idea broke the block. Within 24 hours Matt had written the song through a quick home recording on his phone before bringing it back into the studio to finish with the band.

The episode explores writer’s block, creative pressure, and how sometimes a single spark can unlock the entire songwriting process.

Guest: Mariachi El Bronx

Track: “Songbird”

Album: Mariachi El Bronx (IV)

Host: Kieron Banerji

Produced and Distributed by: Palm Tree Island

In this episode of The Hardest Part, Kieron Banerji sits down with Matt from Mariachi El Bronx for a behind the scenes look at the songwriting and music production process behind their track &ldquo;Songbird.&rdquo;
&nbsp;The conversation dives into studio life during the making of the band&rsquo;s fourth Mariachi El Bronx record and how the song came together in a completely unexpected way. Unlike the rest of the album, &ldquo;Songbird&rdquo; did not exist as a demo. It emerged in the studio after bandmate Vincent Hidalgo shared a fast, melodic guitar idea that immediately sparked something new.
Matt explains how, after ten years between records, the pressure to write had created what he describes as a &ldquo;traffic jam&rdquo; in his head. There was no shortage of ideas, but too many thoughts competing at once made it difficult to translate them into lyrics. That one new musical idea broke the block. Within 24 hours Matt had written the song through a quick home recording on his phone before bringing it back into the studio to finish with the band.
The episode explores writer&rsquo;s block, creative pressure, and how sometimes a single spark can unlock the entire songwriting process.
Guest: Mariachi El Bronx
Track: &ldquo;Songbird&rdquo;
Album: Mariachi El Bronx (IV)
Host: Kieron Banerji
Produced and Distributed by: Palm Tree Island

Kiioto: "Wild Geese"

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