War Child UK is set to release a new benefit album titled “Help(2)”, 30 years after its original compilation album achieved remarkable success. The first “Help” album debuted in 1995 and topped the British charts, raising over £1.25 million (approximately $1.938 million) to support children and families affected by the conflict in Bosnia. The new album aims to continue this legacy, featuring unreleased tracks from prominent artists such as Arctic Monkeys, Olivia Rodrigo, and Wet Leg.
The charity has long sought to replicate the impact of its first compilation, but various challenges prevented an all-star follow-up until now. The new album will be available in stores and on streaming platforms starting Friday, and it aims to raise funds and awareness for children suffering in conflict zones, specifically in regions like Ukraine, Gaza, and Sudan. Rich Clarke, War Child UK’s head of music, noted that musicians today feel a profound need to contribute. “That’s a powerful driver,” he stated.
Jarvis Cocker’s involvement with War Child UK dates back to 1996, when his band Pulp donated their Mercury Prize winnings to the charity. Recently, he collaborated with producer James Ford to contribute a song for the compilation. Cocker reflected on the current global situation, highlighting a significant increase in the number of children living in poverty, stating, “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%.”
The song Cocker worked on, titled “Begging for Change,” was a project he had struggled to complete for over a decade. The urgency of the charity’s cause helped him finish the track, which he recorded at the iconic Abbey Road Studios in London. Uniquely, the recording process involved filming by children documenting the experience, a decision Cocker embraced. “It makes sense to capture it from a child’s point of view,” he said, noting that elements like a children’s choir were included in the final product.
The importance of benefit compilations in indie music has been emphasized by John Nolan, guitarist and singer in the bands Taking Back Sunday and Straylight Run. He stated that such projects allow artists to engage closely with issues they care about. “It’s something that we can be a lot more hands-on with,” he explained, referencing his own compilation album which raised funds for the American Civil Liberties Union.
The British band Black Country, New Road also expressed their commitment to using their art for social good. Their contribution, the song “Strangers,” aligns with their ongoing efforts to fundraise for Palestinian children. Violinist Georgia Ellery remarked, “It became important to us that we became more aware and started questioning things.”
For Graham Hastings of the Scottish band Young Fathers, participating in the “Help(2)” compilation was an obvious choice. He highlighted the importance of acknowledging the plight of children in refugee camps, describing it as a failure of humanity. “For us, the important thing is for people just to feel a general awareness about what’s happening and why it’s happening,” he said.
As War Child UK prepares for the release of “Help(2)”, the hope is that the album will not only raise funds but also inspire a global conversation about the challenges faced by children in war-torn areas. With a blend of established and emerging artists contributing their voices, the album stands as a testament to the power of music in advocating for social change.
The Associated Press provides coverage of philanthropy and nonprofits with support from a collaboration with The Conversation US, funded by Lilly Endowment Inc. For more on philanthropy, visit https://apnews.com/hub/philanthropy.
