Inside the making of “Weights and Measures” | The Hardest Part Podcast with Kieron Banerji

What happens when two ideas don't fit — until they finally do? What does that process actually look like? In this episode of The Hardest Part, Kieron Banerji is joined by Ulrika Spacek to break down the making of their track “Weights and Measures.” The song began as two completely separate pieces. One was built around a heavy fuzz section. The other drew on early 2010s London electronic textures. For a long time, they simply would not work together. Bringing them into one track meant shifting tempos, adjusting pitch, and committing to the contrast rather than smoothing it out. The band talk through their collaborative writing process, building ideas from a shared sample bank and starting with drum sketches recorded remotely. They unpack the technical challenges of blending digital and analog sounds, recreating MIDI parts, and pushing themselves beyond what felt comfortable. They also reflect on creative block and how time and collective thinking helped the song eventually find its shape. Despite being difficult to finish, it has become one of the tracks that means the most to them. Guest: Ulrika Spacek Track: “Weights and Measures” Album: EXPO (2026) Host: Kieron Banerji Produced and Distributed by: Palm Tree Island - 📞Contact us: ➡️https://www.palmtreeisland.co.uk/ - 00:00 Intro 01:00 The two separate song ideas 02:00 Why they would not fit together 03:25 The sound and influences 04:50 How the band writes together 10:00 Production challenges 14:00 Creative block 16:35 Why the track took so long 19:10 Writing the lyrics 20:00 When it finally clicked 22:05 Final reflections 26:35 Outro - 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 - #musicpodcast #songwriting #musicproduction