A new charity album, "Help 2," was recorded in London last November with over 30 artists to benefit War Child. The project, a spiritual successor to the 1995 "Help!" album, aims to raise funds for children affected by war globally. The album's tracklist features artists such as Olivia Rodrigo, Wet Leg, The Last Dinner Party, Wolf Alice, Fontaines DC, Nilüfer Yanya, Cameron Winter, Ezra Collective, Foals, and Young Fathers.
Recording Sessions
Over one week, 23 tracks were recorded across five studios at Abbey Road. The sessions saw numerous collaborations, including Blur's Graham Coxon playing guitar with Olivia Rodrigo on a cover of The Magnetic Fields' "The Book Of Love." Damon Albarn's session included Johnny Marr on guitar and additional vocals by Kae Tempest and Grian Chatten. Jarvis Cocker of Pulp had these artists contribute to the intro of a new Pulp song, "Begging For Change," noting the spontaneity of the collaborations.
Historical Context and Urgency
The original 1995 "Help!" album was recorded during the Britpop era and featured artists like Paul Weller, Radiohead, Suede, Paul McCartney, and notably, both Oasis and Blur. It sold 70,000 copies in its first week, raising approximately £1.25 million to assist children in conflict zones, such as Bosnia and Herzegovina. In 2025, War Child reports that 520 million children—nearly one in five worldwide—are affected by war, a figure higher than any time since World War II, amidst simultaneous crises in Ukraine, Sudan, and Gaza and cuts in international aid.
Jarvis Cocker expressed hope that the album would provide enjoyment and empower listeners to feel they are contributing to positive change.
Featured Tracks and Unique Aspects
The first single from the album, "Opening Night" by Arctic Monkeys, was released recently. Drummer Matt Helders stated that the song, which addresses political themes and offers a message of hope, had been unfinished until the call from War Child prompted its completion. Helders noted the band's preference for creating new material for charity records.
Adding a unique element to the production, a film crew of children, aged eight to ten, documented the entire recording process. Bafta-winning director Jonathan Glazer organized this initiative to connect the music to the young beneficiaries. Helders mentioned that the children's presence, freely roaming and interacting with the environment, transformed the studio atmosphere, making it less clinical and more engaging.
Jarvis Cocker initially found being filmed in the studio challenging due to self-consciousness. However, he ultimately found the children's lack of conventional interest liberating, allowing for a more relaxed approach to recording Pulp's track, "Begging For Change," which has a spontaneous, live band feel. The children's vocal contributions, specifically screaming, were also incorporated into the song.