What to expect from HELP(2): War Child

Set to be released on the 6th of March, HELP(2) is inspired by the incredibly successful landmark 1995 HELP album, which raised over 1.25 million for War Child. The previous album encompassed the music of a variety of pre-eminent musicians, such as rival bands Oasis and Blur, who laid their chart battle aside to fight for the rights of children living through conflict. In 2026, the impact of conflict on children worldwide is both colossal and devastating. Wars and violence across Ukraine, Sudan, and Gaza are testimony to the reality that we are in a global conflict crisis. Composed by a diverse, talented, and inspirational group of musicians, HELP (2) seeks to spread hope and raise funds to support the protection of children in war-stricken areas of the world. With such a phenomenal line-up, this record is predicted to be a powerful masterpiece.

Curated in November 2025, HELP(2) is a collaborative album created by a variety of legendary musicians. From Fontaines D.C. to beabadoobee, this album is founded on the collective endeavour of artists to raise money for War Child through creative collaboration: an organisation committed to protecting, educating, and standing up for the rights of children living through conflict. Through the power and beauty of creativity, harmony, lyrics, and melody, this record symbolises a coming together of artists in the hope of making an impactful difference. It is starkly clear that with escalating hostilities worldwide, this kind of action is more vital than ever.

The already released single ‘Opening Night’ by Arctic Monkeys underlines pressing political topics through lyrics referring to supercomputers and brainwashing. Moreover, Bafta-winning director Jonathan Glazer’s vision was to create something “By Children, For Children”. Down to the documentation of the recording process, children were heavily involved, equipped with cameras to have their own creative input on the project. In fact, ‘Begging For Change’ by Pulp utilises the screams of the child camera crew in the recording of the song.

Rich Clarke, Head of Music at War Child UK, hopes that this record helps turn “compassion into action”, spreading awareness of the urgent need for aid in these areas impacted by conflict. The double vinyl is set to cost around £26 and is a way for people to make a small positive change, as well as to inspire hope in people who feel helpless. Music is so much more than just beats and lyrics; it’s an incredibly powerful tool that enables artists and people to take a stance and to use creativity to imagine a different world. This album is a testament to the power of music and its ability to embody both community and collective action, bringing people together. Through music, hope lives on.