“Even better than it’s Brit-pop heavy 1995 predecessor” – Uncut
Filmed by children in Sudan, Ukraine, Gaza and Yemen, the video was directed by Billy Boyd Cope with creative direction by Academy Award Winner Jonathan Glazer.
HELP(2) is a brand new collaborative album inspired by the landmark 1995 release HELP to engage music lovers globally in support of War Child’s vital work delivering immediate aid, education, specialist mental health support, and protection to children affected by conflict around the world. The new album, like the original, speaks to the urgency of the humanitarian situation globally today.
As violence erupts once again in the Middle East, families are facing fear and uncertainty. War Child estimates that over 100 million children could now be in danger as the threat of wider conflict grows in the region. Every purchase, stream and share of HELP(2) supports War Child UK to raise critical funds for children living through the unthinkable.
The record features an incredible line-up of contributors including Anna Calvi, Arctic Monkeys, Arlo Parks, Arooj Aftab, Bat For Lashes, Beabadoobee, Beck, Beth Gibbons, Big Thief, Black Country, New Road, Cameron Winter, Damon Albarn, Depeche Mode, Dove Ellis, Ellie Rowsell, English Teacher, Ezra Collective, Foals, Fontaines D.C., Graham Coxon, Greentea Peng, Grian Chatten, Kae Tempest, King Krule, Nilüfer Yanya, Oasis, Olivia Rodrigo, Pulp, Sampha, The Last Dinner Party, Wet Leg and Young Fathers. You can find the full HELP(2) tracklist below.
You can find images of the artists HERE.
HELP(2) carries forward the spirit of the original HELP album and was brought to life through a close collaboration with Abbey Road Studios, recorded predominantly across one extraordinary week in November 2025 under the stewardship of acclaimed producer James Ford.
In addition to the stellar cast of musicians involved, renowned filmmaker and Academy Award Winner Jonathan Glazer acted as Creative Director for HELP(2), working with Academy Films to assemble a team of brilliant creatives and overseeing the filming and art direction for the project. Glazer and Mica Levi’s concept was simple – “By Children, For Children” – with his team handing the cameras over to children in order to see the world through their eyes and serve as a constant reminder of the reason for the endeavour to the audience and all involved.
Each child operated their own small camera and was invited into the studios to film the artists recording without any restrictions. In addition, Glazer’s team worked with fixers and filmmakers in Ukraine, Gaza, Yemen and Sudan to gather footage filmed by children on the ground in these conflict zones. The results are a stunning piece of work that, ultimately, connects the album to the children the music seeks to help.
“We handed cameras to kids so we could see what they see. The world through their eyes. We wanted to remove the adult hand and the adult world around them – the conflict, the injury and the war. What they did with the cameras was up to them, we just encouraged them to play. What we got back was the purest form of their energy, joy and truth. It gives us a chance to not only witness, but experience their innocence, joy and resilience.” – Jonathan Glazer
Watch the trailer for HELP(2) below
Recorded in a single day in 1995, the original HELP album raised over £1.2 million, enabling War Child to provide vital support to thousands of children caught in the Bosnian conflict.
However, when HELP was first released, around 10% of the world’s children were affected by conflict. Today, that figure has almost doubled to nearly 1 in 5, or 520 million children worldwide; more than at any time since the Second World War. With conflicts escalating and funding cuts hitting hard, War Child’s work has never been more urgent and the need for these artists to carry forward the original album’s spirit of collective action could not be more vital.
No child should be a part of war. Ever.
Olivia Rodrigo – ‘The Book of Love’ (Visualiser) – HELP(2)
HELP(2)
You can listen to the album HERE.
Tracklist:
- Arctic Monkeys – Opening Night
- Damon Albarn, Grian Chatten & Kae Tempest – Flags
- Black Country, New Road – Strangers
- The Last Dinner Party – Let’s Do It Again!
- Beth Gibbons – Sunday Morning
- Arooj Aftab & Beck – Lilac Wine
- King Krule – The 343 Loop
- Depeche Mode – Universal Soldier
- Ezra Collective & Greentea Peng – Helicopters
- Arlo Parks – Nothing I Could Hide
- English Teacher & Graham Coxon – Parasite
- Beabadoobee – Say Yes
- Big Thief – Relive, Redie
- Fontaines D.C. – Black Boys on Mopeds
- Cameron Winter – Warning
- Young Fathers – Don’t Fight the Young
- Pulp – Begging for Change
- Sampha – Naboo
- Wet Leg – Obvious
- Foals – When the War is Finally Done
- Bat For Lashes – Carried My Girl
- Anna Calvi, Ellie Rowsell, Nilüfer Yanya & Dove Ellis – Sunday Light
- Olivia Rodrigo – The Book of Love
- Bonus Track: Oasis – Acquiesce (Live from Wembley Stadium, 28 September 2025)
