What I like about “Balance” is that it doesn’t try to shout over the noise. With this single, Harry Kappen takes on a subject that most artists either oversimplify or avoid completely, the growing divide in the world, politically, socially, and even personally. Instead of picking a side, the song looks at the space in between.
That idea alone makes the track stand out to me. A lot of music about modern society leans toward extremes, but “Balance” feels like it’s pushing back against that. The lyrics focus on the tension between opposites, right versus left, tradition versus change, activism versus resistance, but the message isn’t about winning. It’s about understanding. That gives the song a reflective tone rather than an aggressive one.
Musically, the track fits that theme. It doesn’t feel rushed or chaotic. The arrangement builds gradually, letting the words sit at the center. There’s a mix of rock structure with more atmospheric moments, which keeps the song grounded while still giving it emotional weight. You can tell this is written by someone who has spent years working with music rather than just experimenting with it.
Knowing that “Balance” is the first single from the album After the Crossing also adds another layer to it. The record comes after a major change in Kappen’s life, moving from Europe to Mexico, and that sense of transition seems to run through the song. It feels like the perspective of someone who has seen different cultures, different opinions, and different ways of living, and realized that reality is rarely as simple as people want it to be.
Another thing I respect about this project is how personal it is. Kappen plays, sings, and produces the material himself, which gives the music a direct, unfiltered quality. It doesn’t sound like it was built by a committee. It sounds like one person trying to say something honestly.
His background also explains that approach. Coming from years in rock bands, working in studios, and later spending decades in music therapy, he clearly understands how music connects to people on an emotional level. That experience shows in the songwriting. Even when the topic is political or social, the song never feels cold.
For me, “Balance” works because it doesn’t pretend to have all the answers. It simply argues that the middle ground still matters, and that’s something you don’t hear very often anymore.
In a time where everything feels pushed to the edges, a song about staying centered feels surprisingly powerful.
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