Some guys just get it. Harry Kappen is one of them. The Dutch-born, Mexico-based singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist has been giving out records since the pandemic hit, and his latest joint—”Balance“—proves he ain’t slowing down. This track is the lead single from his upcoming LP After the Crossing, dropping March 3, 2026, on MTS Records. And let me tell you, it’s a damn good entry point.
Kappen isn’t some fresh-faced kid trying to find himself. The dude has lived. Born in Groningen, Netherlands, he cut his teeth making music for Dutch radio and TV while tearing it up in rock bands across Europe. Then he pivoted—hard—studying music therapy and spending over two decades working in youth care and lecturing in an international master’s program. Now he’s in Mexico City, still doing therapy work on a smaller scale, but pouring his soul back into music.
The track itself is a thoughtful beast. Kappen wrote, performed, and produced every damn thing on it. Drums? Him. Guitars? Him. Vocals? All him. This is a solo vision brought to life by one pair of hands, and it’s tight.
“Balance” digs into the garbage fire of our current times. We’re talking political divides, social standoffs, cultural trenches—the whole mess. But Kappen ain’t here to scream into the void. Instead, he’s reaching for the middle ground. It’s “an anthem calling for unity and understanding,” and that’s dead on. Through poignant lyrics and layered instrumentation, he’s begging for dialogue. For compassion. For people to remember nuance exists in a world that only wants black and white. It’s heavy stuff, but it never feels preachy. It feels necessary.
Kappen got some help fine-tuning the vision—musical advisory came from Jeroen Goeijers and Koop Hofman—but the bones are all his. And it’s working. The guy has already bagged an Elite Music Award for Songwriter of the Year and nominations from the ISSA Awards, Josie Music Awards, and IMN Music Awards. His streaming numbers are climbing, and cuts like this one explain why.
“Balance” is a statement from a guy who crossed oceans and borders to find his footing again. Play this when the noise gets too loud. Let Harry Kappen remind you there’s still room to breathe.