For Harry Kappen, moving from Europe to Mexico hasn’t meant abandoning the musical instincts he has cultivated for decades. On After the Crossing, the singer-songwriter and producer continues to wrestle with what people owe one another, how public arguments drown out nuance, and what it means to make art without surrendering creative control.
Exposed Vocals has followed that journey through “Distant Shore”, “Good Samaritans” and his latest album coverage. We sat down with Kappen to talk about the difficult distinction between moving by choice and fleeing for survival, the friends who lend him fresh ears in the studio, and the music already taking shape beyond this release.
EV After the Crossing is your first album since moving from Europe to Mexico. How did the move change your songwriting?
Harry Kappen To be honest, I don’t think that move changed the way I write. I’ve been writing since I was young, and over the years I’ve developed my own style. It doesn’t really matter where I am anymore.
EV "Distant Shore" is a meditation on migration. Was it written before or after you crossed yourself?
Harry Kappen I created Distant Shore during and after the process of moving. I found some aspects of the move very difficult to arrange—largely due to sluggish bureaucracy or the need to repeatedly remind people about agreements that had been made. It was incredibly frustrating. Yet, that paled in comparison to the television reports I saw about actual refugees—people forced to endure a living hell: crammed into trucks, walking for days across deserts, or—unable to swim—packed tightly into rickety boats, all while having to pay exorbitant sums to those who profit from their plight.
EV "Good Samaritans" contrasts quiet helpers with performative compassion online. What prompted it?
Harry Kappen Actually, the initial trigger was Mr. Trump’s belief that he should be considered for the Nobel Peace Prize… hahaha… which led me to reflect on the superficiality often seen on social media: ostentatious displays, ego-centrism, the pursuit of an idealized image, the spreading of unfounded opinions, and so on. This stands in stark contrast to those who, driven by empathy, help others—without any need to beat their own chests—simply out of a sense of common humanity. In my eyes, these are the true heroes of our society—my Nobel Prize winners.
EV You wrote, performed and produced the album. What is hardest about being your own producer?
Harry Kappen I enjoy every minute I spend working on my music; I love the process—coming up with ideas, recording, refining, changing things again if necessary, and so on. And I take my time with it. A song is only finished when it tells me it’s finished. I love having the freedom to do whatever I want, so I don’t think it’s hard at all.
EV What musical advice did Jeroen Goeijers and Koop Hofman give you?
Harry Kappen Actually I have three advisors: my sister Hanneke and my friends Jeroen and Koop. I have made a lot of music with all three of them over the years. Sometimes the process of composing and producing takes a long time, and that can lead to ‘blind spots.’ Hanneke is great at keeping an eye on the structure—the composition of a song—while Jeroen, who is a drummer and also produces music for films and documentaries, sometimes points out technical details, such as frequencies. Koop is a guitarist with a wealth of experience regarding guitar sounds; he occasionally offers insights into the role of the guitar. I always value their input, though I’m also stubborn enough not to listen to them every single time! 🙂 It’s wonderful to have a sounding board—people with ‘fresh ears’ to listen to my music.
EV How does living in Mexico show up in the sound of the record?
Harry Kappen Just as with my songwriting, the place where I live has no influence on my sound. A mariachi band isn’t suddenly going to appear in one of my songs.
EV What is "Balance" about, and why give it a lyric video?
Harry Kappen ‘Balance’ has its lyric video because lyrics matter. ‘Balance’ addresses the fact that the media primarily amplify extreme voices and opinions—those stemming from the far left or the far right. In my view, however, true democracy unfolds within the vast ‘grey’ middle ground: a space defined by compromise, collaboration, and mutual listening. The media ought to devote far more attention to this sphere. Unfortunately, shouting and attention-seeking tactics sell better than more nuanced perspectives.
EV How do you choose between writing in English and in your other languages?
Harry Kappen I grew up with English-language music, and English is, after all, a global language that allows you to reach a great many people. English is the language of pop music. That said, I always write all my lyrics in Dutch first, and then translate them into English as best I can.
EV What does "home" mean to you now?
Harry Kappen It’s funny that you ask that, because my new album features a song titled ‘Home’—in which I explain exactly what ‘Home’ means to me. So, a perfect cliffhanger…
EV What are you working on next?
Harry Kappen My new album was completed last week and will be released in early January. It consists of 12 new songs, and I’m very excited about it—I believe it’s my best album yet. Before that, in mid-November, I’ll also be releasing my first Christmas single. Furthermore, there are some exciting international developments—I can’t fully disclose the details just yet, but they have led me to start rehearsing with a new band here in Mexico…
What’s next for Harry Kappen
Kappen’s answers leave the impression of an artist more interested in sincerity than spectacle. Even when he tackles polarizing subjects, his work returns to empathy, compromise and the independence to follow a song where it leads. With a Christmas single planned for November, a 12-track album slated for January, and rehearsals under way with a new band in Mexico, the next chapter is already moving.
Explore his recent “Balance” lyric video and more of his coverage across Exposed Vocals.
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