“No child should be part of war. Ever.” – War Child

This is not just a belief, but a goal. Since 1993, the UK based organization, War Child, has thoughtfully and tirelessly worked towards succeeding in their mission to protect and support the hundreds of millions of children suffering from conflict worldwide. The idea for this organization started in a bomb shelter in Bosnia, where music brought hope to scared children. Thirty years later, the organization continues to show us how music can deliver peace in the darkest hour, with the announcement of their upcoming charity album, ‘HELP 2’. 

The story starts back in 1993 when British filmmakers David Wilson and Bill Leeson, along with Dutch social entrepreneur Willemijn Verloop, decided to visit the former Yugoslavia while the Bosnian war was raging on. The trio wanted to visit so that they could bring awareness to the hardships faced by children living there. Though horrified by the atrocities they witnessed, there was something else they saw that stuck with them even more. Deep in the bomb shelters of Bosnia, the group unexpectedly found small signs of hope. The source of this hope could only be attributed to the musical workshops held for the children living in the shelters. Seeing how the workshops benefited the children, the men became inspired to take action upon returning home. What started as small fundraising events quickly grew, and eventually led to the founding of War Child.    

Since its founding, the organization has accomplished so many incredible things, from raising money, to providing children with educational opportunities, emergency aid, and physiological support. Despite all of the ways the organization has expanded, they haven’t forgotten their musical roots.

In the 90s, War Child Records was born. Throughout the years, the independent label has brought together numerous artists to create music that raises funds for children afflicted by war. In 1995, some of the biggest names in music at the time came together to make War Child Records’ first charity album, ‘HELP’. The album laid the foundation for future projects, and featured names such as Radiohead, Oasis, Blur, Paul McCartney, and many more. To this day, it is deemed as one of the greatest charity albums of all time. 

Over the past 30 years, War Child Records has continued to release music in collaboration with various artists, such as Gorillaz and Coldplay. Their most recent project was announced only a month ago, and is already stirring up a lot of attention. The album, titled ‘HELP 2’, is inspired by the original ‘HELP’ album, the one to start it all.  It was announced that the full album is to be released on March 6th of this year, but a few of the songs have already been released as singles. Like its predecessors, the album features an incredible line up of artists, such as Arctic Monkeys, Damon Albarn, Olivia Rodrigo, Depeche Mode, and many more, with acclaimed producer James Ford taking on the role of Executive Producer. The album, which features many new original songs, as well as some covers, was recorded in a single week during this past November at Abbey Road Studios.  

On their website, a quote by Rich Clarke, Head of Music at War Child UK, says, “HELP(2) is more than an album. It’s a powerful example of what can happen when the music industry comes together around a shared purpose… We hope this record not only raises vital funds, but also awareness of the urgent need to turn compassion into action and do more to protect children living through war.”

So far, the album has received a lot of attention from fans of the featured musicians. Many are excited about the inclusion of British band Arctic Monkeys, as the album marks somewhat of a comeback for them, after not releasing any music for nearly four years, and there being rumours of the band being done. Though a lot of the talk around this album has to do with the names attached to it, many are also intrigued by Creative Director, and Academy Award Winner, Jonathan Glazer’s, approach towards the visual aspect of this project. Through War Child Records’ socials, viewers have been drawn in by his unique, though fairly simple concept, which he describes as “By children, For Children.” The videos posted feature the camerawork of children across London, Gaza, Sudan, Ukraine, and Yemen, which allows for an unique approach towards capturing the essence of this album, while also reminding us all of what this project is really about. 

In anticipation of this album, it’s important to not get lost in the excitement of new music, and remember why the album is being made in the first place. In a time where global conflict consumes the news, we should all set out to do what the founders of War Child did 30 years ago, and turn to music to restore hope.