Harry Kappen Talks “One Life” and More (Interview)

Dutch musician, Harry Kappen, released his latest single, ‘One Life’, on December 1, 2023. This highly anticipated single is the first release from his upcoming full-length album of the same name, which is set to be available early this year.

‘One Life’ is a heartfelt ballad that will resonate with listeners during this time of reflection and connection. In a world rife with conflict and confusion, Harry’s yearning for love, light, and warmth is a poignant reminder to embrace the present and cherish every moment.

As an experienced multi-instrumentalist and producer, Harry has honed his craft over the years and is known for his eclectic and diverse music style. Influenced by artists like David Bowie, Paul McCartney, and Radiohead, his music is a fusion of rock, funk, and pop.

Aside from his solo career, Harry is also a music therapist, using his talents to help troubled youth and families cope with a variety of problems. His work has been lauded for its ability to make patterns audible and curable through the power of music.

Congratulations on your chart-topping songs and upcoming album release! Can you tell us a bit about the inspiration behind your new single ‘One Life’?

‘One life’ was created after 3 other singles, which were a bit more socially critical. I needed a song that would bring me a little closer to myself; my need to put the human relationship back at the center instead of talking about war (Wargames), A.I. (Not all of us agreed), climate change and complaining about all kinds of social issues, without taking a critical look at themselves (The freedom inside).

With over 360,000 hits on Spotify for your previous singles, what do you think it is about your music that resonates with listeners?

I can only guess, but I suspect that the issues I’m talking about are shared by other people as well, they are universal issues and it will therefore appeal to more people. Of course, I also hope that the way I make music is recognizable to others. I have a musical baggage that dates back to the 70s, 80s, 90s, and beyond. Many listeners have the same baggage and so my music is acceptable and accessible to their ears.

As an experienced musician and music therapist, how do these two roles intersect in your work?

I work a lot from improvisation. Improvisation is often the starting point of creating a song, but also a very important tool in therapy with my clients. There are similarities in that respect. But it’s not that my experiences as a therapist affect my musicianship. Rather the other way around; I’ve been making music for as long as I can remember. So the ‘musician Harry’ has much more influence on the ‘therapist Harry’ than the other way around.

Your music has been described as eclectic, drawing from a variety of genres. Can you talk about your musical influences and how they shape your sound?

So much music has been made and I don’t divide it into genres, but rather into good and bad music. I can enjoy Bach’s St Matthew Passion as well as the latest album by Knower or Motorpsycho. Over the years I pick up a bit of everything apparently, I make it my own, and I incorporate it into my music.

When it comes to pop music, I do have my preferences. I love how Paul McCartney writes his melody. I love how Bowie uses his atmospheres and sounds and I love the musicality of Bjork and Radiohead. Of course that affects me, but that happens unconsciously, I don’t look for it. To be honest, I don’t think about it that way either; it comes as it comes.

You have worked with many Dutch pop bands as a producer. How does your approach to producing differ when working on your own music?

I make my own music at home and therefore I have a lot more time to think and try and play for that. Working as a producer requires a lot more focus and time plays a much more important role (time is money, isn’t it?), then good preparation is essential and so is being on the same page with the musicians. This also requires preparation, so that everyone knows in advance where they stand. That goes for the musicians as well as myself. In both cases, you start from the possibilities and strengths of the band or artist and try to serve them as well as possible. I am in favour of an open, transparent collaboration, in which everyone’s commitment is clear in advance.

Your music often addresses heavy themes like war, climate change and confusion among people. How do you balance these weighty topics with creating catchy and enjoyable music?

I usually make the music first, the music is the starting point. In addition, I have notebooks full of text, ideas and topics and I follow the news and opinions of everyday life. The combination of the two, music and lyrics, usually occurs naturally. Sometimes adjustments are needed to make text and music fit together better, but that’s the fun part of the process you’re in. It’s a puzzle that always has a happy ending. Over the years, I have had that (self) confidence. I guess it’s my experience.

As a lecturer on an international master’s degree in music therapy, what do you hope students take away from your teachings?

That they can trust their own intuition and creativity with peace of mind. To do this, we improvise a lot and let go of previously learned conventions. Making music in the here and now, reacting and connecting to another (the client) is important in being able to practice music therapy.

Can you give us a sneak peek into what fans can expect from your upcoming album ‘One Life’?

It will again be an eclectic collection of songs, ranging from ballad to funk, from rock to more dance-like. Some songs are a reaction to what I hear in the news, others are more lighthearted. The current single with the same name as the album ‘One Life’ was released in December and is doing very well. Hopefully that’s a very promising sign for the album. More information can be found on www.harrykappen.nl.

In your opinion, how does music help individuals cope with problems and connect with others?

Music is emotion and with emotion comes music. Music is also structure in time. That’s the power of music. It translates who you are, what you want to say, and it regulates your behavior. And at the same time, you can share it with others. Through music you can talk about emotions and feelings, without having to talk about them. This is a safe way for my clients (adolescent young people with often low self-esteem) to express themselves.

Personal or relational problems become audible almost immediately in making music with each other. In therapy we have the improvement of those musical problems and in this way we work indirectly on the problems of that client in a way that is acceptable to the client.

What’s next for Harry Kappen? Any exciting projects or collaborations in the works?

Now let’s finish the album. That is my first priority. Maybe there will be another single first, but I haven’t decided yet. After that, I am open to working with anyone who wants to. Furthermore, making and recording music continues, I couldn’t live without it.