Kae Tempest, one of the artists featured on the new charity album Help(2), recently reflected on his experience collaborating with Damon Albarn and other notable musicians to create a tribute to War Child's 30th anniversary. The project involved a unique approach, as both the original recording sessions and the accompanying film were produced in a single day.
The recording sessions took place at Abbey Road Studios, where multiple artists were working simultaneously on their respective tracks. Kae Tempest expressed his excitement about jumping into a collaboration with Grian Chatten of Fontaines DC, noting that it felt like a "true collaboration." Meanwhile, Johnny Marr was present on guitar, accompanied by Femi from Ezra Collective on drums.
The project's director, Jonathan Glazer, aimed to capture the joy and freedom of childhood by featuring children in war zones filming themselves playing music. This approach added an emotional depth to the album, as War Child supports children affected by conflict.
Despite having a strong lineup of artists, including Jarvis Cocker, Olivia Rodrigo, Arctic Monkeys, and Depeche Mode, some musicians were hesitant to participate due to concerns about the project's perceived political tone. In an effort to assemble a diverse group, producer James Ford made efforts to include artists from various genres and backgrounds.
Ford, who was in the ICU with leukemia during most of the recording process, managed to remain engaged through his laptop, providing remote production guidance and support. Olivia Rodrigo sang live with strings while he watched remotely, illustrating the project's innovative approach.
The end result has been widely praised for its musical quality, cooperation among artists, and fundraising potential. The involvement of children in the film and music recording process also added an emotional depth to the album. As one contributor noted, "It humanised the cause quite beautifully in the room," highlighting the impact that these young participants had on the project's success.
The new charity album Help(2) offers a testament to the power of collaboration and creative problem-solving in raising awareness and funds for important causes. Despite its ambitious scope, the album has managed to achieve what many thought was impossible: to bring together some of the biggest names in music while still maintaining the spirit of the original 1995 compilation that started it all – Help.
The recording sessions took place at Abbey Road Studios, where multiple artists were working simultaneously on their respective tracks. Kae Tempest expressed his excitement about jumping into a collaboration with Grian Chatten of Fontaines DC, noting that it felt like a "true collaboration." Meanwhile, Johnny Marr was present on guitar, accompanied by Femi from Ezra Collective on drums.
The project's director, Jonathan Glazer, aimed to capture the joy and freedom of childhood by featuring children in war zones filming themselves playing music. This approach added an emotional depth to the album, as War Child supports children affected by conflict.
Despite having a strong lineup of artists, including Jarvis Cocker, Olivia Rodrigo, Arctic Monkeys, and Depeche Mode, some musicians were hesitant to participate due to concerns about the project's perceived political tone. In an effort to assemble a diverse group, producer James Ford made efforts to include artists from various genres and backgrounds.
Ford, who was in the ICU with leukemia during most of the recording process, managed to remain engaged through his laptop, providing remote production guidance and support. Olivia Rodrigo sang live with strings while he watched remotely, illustrating the project's innovative approach.
The end result has been widely praised for its musical quality, cooperation among artists, and fundraising potential. The involvement of children in the film and music recording process also added an emotional depth to the album. As one contributor noted, "It humanised the cause quite beautifully in the room," highlighting the impact that these young participants had on the project's success.
The new charity album Help(2) offers a testament to the power of collaboration and creative problem-solving in raising awareness and funds for important causes. Despite its ambitious scope, the album has managed to achieve what many thought was impossible: to bring together some of the biggest names in music while still maintaining the spirit of the original 1995 compilation that started it all – Help.
I mean, producer-ing remotely through his laptop? That's some next-level creativity right there! 
I'm loving this new charity album, Help(2) is giving me LIFE 
! The way they brought together artists from different genres and backgrounds to create something so powerful is just a testament to the magic of music 
! But what really gets me is how they managed to make this project feel so personal and emotional, especially with the involvement of children from war zones 
. It's not often you see a charity album that feels like it's making a real impact, but Help(2) is definitely one for the books 
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This charity album is a total game-changer 
. They got A-list artists and War Child kids rocking out together 
, making for an emotionally charged vibe 
. It's not just a fundraiser, but a celebration of music unifying people 
"Believe you can and you're halfway there." 
Those artists really nailed it with this charity album, bringing people together for a great cause! It's amazing to see how creative problem-solving can lead to something truly special 
Like Ford, who was in ICU but still managed to contribute from afar – that's dedication!
the fact that they included kids from war zones playing music too... it's so heartwarming! 
i'm all for supporting good causes and this album does just that. james ford was literally in ICU with leukemia while making it, but he still managed to produce some amazing music remotely 
. can't wait to listen to it! 
the idea of filming kids from war zones playing music to capture their joy & freedom is so heartwarming and emotional 
and can you believe James Ford was working remotely from his laptop in ICU with leukemia?! 
he's a total boss for making it work despite everything 
it's not just the music that's great either, it's the way they're using video and storytelling to highlight the impact of war on kids - it's so emotional and powerful 
- Theodore Roosevelt 
. And can you believe the whole thing was done in one day? It's like they were all just vibing together, you know? 
. It shows that even with all these amazing artists coming together, they still managed to keep the spirit of the original Help alive 
. but it sounds like James Ford really went above and beyond to make sure everyone felt comfortable participating.
for coming up with the idea to include kids in the film and music recording process. It's so cool that they were able to incorporate their talents into the project, and I love how it added this extra emotional depth to the album 
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the way they included kids from war zones making music is pure genius 
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