Dutch singer-songwriter and music therapist Harry Kappen has always approached music as more than performance, and it’s a mirror, a refuge, and sometimes a salve for the world’s fractures. His latest single, “Be Brave If You Can,” released August 1st, 2025, embodies this philosophy with striking clarity. Taken from his spring album Four, the track stands apart from earlier protest-driven works like Wargames and Break These Chains. Instead of calling for rebellion or change, Kappen leans into something quieter yet equally powerful: acceptance. It’s a reminder that in a world burdened by conflict, misinformation, and unchecked power, survival itself can be an act of courage.
The song’s strength lies in its honesty. Kappen doesn’t romanticise bravery or frame it as a universal mandate. Instead, he acknowledges its complexity. “Hopefully you are brave enough when it comes down to it,” he reflects, “but honestly, you can’t ask that of everyone.” This sentiment feels radical in its humility—particularly in a cultural climate that often demands loud defiance as the only measure of resilience. By creating space for vulnerability, Kappen reframes bravery not as conquest, but as the quiet perseverance of simply continuing, of “dealing with it” and carrying on despite uncertainty.
Musically, “Be Brave If You Can” mirrors this contemplative tone. The arrangement unfolds with a restrained elegance, balancing singer-songwriter intimacy with the broader textures of art-rock—a palette shaped by Kappen’s lifelong influences, from McCartney’s melodic tenderness to Bowie’s emotive theatricality. The song doesn’t overwhelm, but drifts, invites, and lingers. Each chord feels deliberate, allowing listeners to sit with the words rather than be swept away. In its subtle build, one can hear echoes of Radiohead’s ability to stretch silence into meaning, as well as hints of Prince’s layered soulfulness. The production feels lived-in and organic, with no trace of over-polish, making its sincerity even more palpable.
Kappen’s parallel life as a music therapist enriches the song’s texture even further. Working with adolescents and families in emotionally charged settings, he’s intimately familiar with the ways music can act as a bridge between pain and resilience. That therapeutic insight filters seamlessly into his songwriting. In “Be Brave If You Can,” listeners are hearing someone who understands the fragility of the human spirit firsthand. The accompanying video extends this honesty, offering transparency and rawness rather than spectacle. It underscores his dual role as musician and mentor, one who guides by example rather than directive.
Ultimately, “Be Brave If You Can” feels like a quiet act of resistance against a culture that too often equates strength with noise. In asking listeners to accept themselves—fear, frailty, and all—Kappen offers a profound kind of permission. It’s not about conquering the world, but surviving it, with as much grace as one can muster. This is a track that lingers long after it ends, a companion for anyone navigating life’s heaviness, whispering that enduring itself can be the bravest act of all.
For more information, follow Harry Kappen:
Website – Spotify – YouTube
