Julia Cumming on the Song That Scared Her to Write

In this episode of The Hardest Part, Kieron Banerji sits down with Julia Cumming to discuss “Please Let Me Remember This,” one of the most personal songs from her debut solo album Julia.  What began as an attempt to write about the smallest possible moment gradually became something much bigger. Julia describes songwriting as visiting her subconscious, placing a cup into a flowing river, and seeing what comes back. But while writing this song, she found herself confronting thoughts she wasn’t ready to face.  As the writing process intensified, so did the pressure. Weeks of obsessive thinking, creative paralysis, and mounting anxiety eventually culminated in a moment that changed everything. The experience led Julia to seek help, receive an OCD diagnosis, and better understand what had been happening beneath the surface for years.  Rather than abandoning the song, she returned to it months later with a new perspective. The result became not only one of the defining songs on the record, but a reminder that sometimes the hardest songs reveal something we weren’t ready to know about ourselves.  Guest: Julia Cumming Host: Kieron Banerji Creative Team: Callum Baker With thanks to Emily Connick at Toast Press and Crista Simiriglia - 00:00 Intro 01:00 Why this song became the hardest part 02:20 Writing outside Sunflower Bean 03:10 Songwriting as accessing the subconscious 05:00 The Beach Boys and writing about small moments 07:20 The pressure of perfection 08:00 Realising she was living with anxiety 10:10 When the subconscious refused to stay quiet 12:45 The writing session that changed everything 14:20 Receiving an OCD diagnosis 15:20 Returning to finish the song 16:30 Hearing the song differently today 18:00 Full Song - 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 - #juliacumming #pleaseletmerememberthis #sunflowerbean