Folk Bitch Trio: “Sarah” — How to Bring a Song Back from the Brink — and the Importance of Brutal Honesty in Songwriting

In this episode of The Hardest Part, host Kieron Banerji is joined by Australian group Folk Bitch Trio to reflect on the long, messy road to finishing “Sarah,” a song that was nearly cut from their debut album Now Would Be a Good Time.

What began as a heartbreak-fueled acoustic track quickly became the most difficult song to finish—emotionally, technically, and collaboratively. Written in isolation, reworked through voice memos, and road-tested live, “Sarah” was put to bed more than once, only to be revived through a mix of persistence, instinct, and radical feedback.

The trio open up about their internal songwriting process—how the safest space for vulnerability is also where the most brutal honesty lives. They talk about the difference between writing for yourself and writing for a band, how cringe can become clarity, and why trusting each other enough to say “that’s not your best work” might be the only way forward.

The episode ends with a live version of “Sarah.”

Artist: Folk Bitch Trio
Song: “Sarah”
Album: Now Would Be a Good Time

Host and Executive Producer: Kieron Banerji 

Recording Engineer: Chris Goldsmith
Mix Engineer: Max Walker
Creative Team: Callum Baker & Giovanni Almonte
Recording Location: Thin White Duke Studios, London

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