Behind the scenes of Help 2, the star-studded charity album

A star-studded charity album, "Help 2," was recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London last November to benefit the organization War Child. The album features over 30 artists, including Olivia Rodrigo, Damon Albarn, Pulp, Wet Leg, and Fontaines DC, who collaborated on 23 tracks in a single week. "Help 2" is a spiritual successor to the 1995 album "Help!," which raised funds for children affected by the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This new album aims to address the urgent need for aid, as War Child reports that 520 million children worldwide are currently affected by conflict. The album includes covers and original songs, with spontaneous collaborations occurring throughout the recording sessions.

Arctic Monkeys have released "Opening Night," their first new song since 2022, to benefit the charity War Child. The track is part of HELP(2), a compilation album released on March 6th featuring artists like Olivia Rodrigo, Pulp, and Depeche Mode. The album is a sequel to War Child’s 1995 album Help, aiming to raise funds for children affected by conflict. Jonathan Glazer contributed by working with children in war zones to create films. James Ford, Arctic Monkeys' producer, oversaw the album's recording at Abbey Road Studios. War Child estimates that one in five children globally are affected by war, highlighting the urgency of the project.