Charity Releases Star-Studded Album ‘Help(2)’ to Aid Children in War Zones

War Child UK is launching a new benefit compilation album featuring unreleased tracks from Arctic Monkeys, Olivia Rodrigo, and other major artists. The album aims to raise funds for children affected by conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, and Sudan, following the success of their 1995 'Help' album.

Nearly three decades after their groundbreaking benefit album topped British music charts, War Child UK is returning with a star-studded sequel to support children caught in global conflicts.

The charity’s original ‘Help’ compilation became a chart-topping phenomenon in 1995, climbing to No. 1 in Britain and generating over 1.25 million pounds (approximately $1.938 million) to assist families affected by the Bosnian conflict. The album featured exclusive tracks from legendary Britpop acts like Oasis, Blur, and Radiohead, plus collaborations involving Paul McCartney and Paul Weller.

According to Rich Clarke, War Child UK’s music director, the organization has spent years attempting to replicate that remarkable achievement. This Friday marks the release of ‘Help(2)’ on retail and streaming services, showcasing never-before-heard material from contemporary stars including Arctic Monkeys, Olivia Rodrigo, and Wet Leg. Proceeds will benefit children impacted by ongoing conflicts across Ukraine, Gaza, and Sudan.

‘I think it’s a situation now where musicians feel not that they want to do something, but that they need to do something,’ Clarke said. ‘That’s a powerful driver. And sometimes, things happen when they’re meant to happen.’

Jarvis Cocker’s relationship with the charity dates to 1996, when his group Pulp donated their Mercury Prize earnings to War Child UK. When producer James Ford, who worked on Pulp’s recent comeback album ‘More,’ invited Cocker to participate in the new compilation, the singer eagerly accepted.

‘When the last one happened, it was something like 10% of the world’s kids were living in poor areas, and now it’s more like 20%,’ Cocker told The Associated Press. ‘And it’s a strange thing, you know, childhood sets you up for the rest of your life or it doesn’t.’

Pulp’s track ‘Begging for Change’ represents a 14-year creative journey for Cocker, who struggled to complete the song until finding purpose in the charitable mission. ‘Somehow, with it having the focus of trying to help some people and change their situation, I did manage to finish it,’ he said. ‘And I’m quite pleased with the result.’

The recording experience at London’s Abbey Road Studios proved uniquely meaningful, despite Cocker’s typical reluctance to be filmed while performing. Director Jonathan Glazer documented the sessions with assistance from young filmmakers, creating what Cocker called an appropriate perspective for a children’s charity project.

‘I thought it was a good idea,’ Cocker said. ‘I mean, if you’re going to do a thing for a charity that is supposed to help children in war zones, then it makes sense to capture it from a child’s point of view.’

Children even participated as a choir on Pulp’s contribution, serving as a constant reminder of the project’s humanitarian goals. ‘Charity shouldn’t have to exist if governments did what they were supposed to, if they looked after people and looked after the world,’ Cocker said. ‘But they do need to exist. They need to exist even more now.’

John Nolan from rock bands Taking Back Sunday and Straylight Run views benefit compilations as a longstanding tradition within independent music circles. The format allows artists direct involvement in causes they support, he explained while discussing his own recent ACLU fundraising album ‘Music for Everyone, Vol. 2.’

‘It’s something that we can be a lot more hands-on with,’ said Nolan. ‘I think that’s also why a lot of more underground bands take on compilations for causes too, because it’s something you can be kind of DIY with.’

British group Black Country, New Road contributed their song ‘Strangers’ as an extension of their ongoing advocacy work, including previous fundraising efforts for Palestinian children. Violinist Georgia Ellery emphasized the importance of artistic activism in today’s climate.

‘With what was going on in the world a couple of years ago, I think it became important to us that we became more aware and started questioning things and how we wanted to move as artists,’ said Ellery.

Scottish band Young Fathers found participation in ‘Help(2)’ an obvious choice, according to member Graham Hastings. ‘When you see children in these refugee camps, for me it’s a sign of humanity failing for that to even occur,’ he said. ‘For us, the important thing is for people just to feel a general awareness about what’s happening and why it’s happening, and get active and get involved in the community.’