Article

HELP(2) – A New Collaborative Album Supporting War Child

January 22, 2026

HELP(2), a brand-new collaborative album inspired by the landmark 1995 release HELP, will be released on Friday 6th March via Record Store Day's official charity partner, War Child Records. The album is available to buy at independent record shops across the UK, giving fans the chance to support their local stores while contributing to War Child’s vital work delivering immediate aid, education, specialist mental health support, and protection to children affected by conflict.

Like the original, HELP(2) responds to the urgency of today’s humanitarian crises. Recorded predominantly across a single extraordinary week at Abbey Road Studios in November 2025, the project was brought to life under the guidance of acclaimed producer James Ford.

HELP(2) features a stellar lineup 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, Olivia Rodrigo, Pulp, Sampha, The Last Dinner Party, Wet Leg, and Young Fathers.

The collaborative recording process mirrors the spirit of the original album, with impromptu moments and one-take sessions throughout. Damon Albarn recorded Flags alongside Johnny Marr and Kae Tempest and Grian Chatten, while Olivia Rodrigo worked with Graham Coxon on The Book of Love.

Renowned filmmaker Jonathan Glazer acted as Creative Director, working with Academy Films and his team to allow children to film inside the studios, as well as gathering footage from Ukraine, Gaza, Yemen, and Sudan. This approach connects the album to the children the music aims to support, reflecting the project’s guiding concept: “By Children, For Children.”

The original HELP album, led by Brian Eno, was recorded in a single day in 1995 and raised over £1.2 million, providing essential support to children affected by the Bosnian conflict. Today, nearly one in five children globally – over 520 million – are affected by conflict, making War Child’s work more urgent than ever.


Pick up HELP(2) at your local indie record shop — support your store and contribute to this vital cause.

Tracklist – HELP(2):

  1. Arctic Monkeys - Opening Night
  2. Damon Albarn, Grian Chatten & Kae Tempest - Flags
  3. Black Country, New Road - Strangers
  4. The Last Dinner Party - Let’s Do It Again!
  5. Beth Gibbons - Sunday Morning
  6. Arooj Aftab & Beck - Lilac Wine
  7. King Krule - The 343 Loop
  8. Depeche Mode - Universal Soldier
  9. Ezra Collective & Greentea Peng - Helicopters
  10. Arlo Parks - Nothing I Could Hide
  11. English Teacher & Graham Coxon - Parasite
  12. Beabadoobee - Say Yes
  13. Big Thief - Relive, Redie
  14. Fontaines D.C. - Black Boys on Mopeds
  15. Cameron Winter - Warning
  16. Young Fathers - Don’t Fight the Young
  17. Pulp - Begging for Change
  18. Sampha - Naboo
  19. Wet Leg - Obvious
  20. Foals - When the War is Finally Done
  21. Bat For Lashes - Carried My Girl
  22. Anna Calvi, Ellie Rowsell, Nilüfer Yanya & Dove Ellis - Sunday Light
  23. Olivia Rodrigo - The Book of Love

share this article

other news

Related Articles

Behind the Counter Returns to UK Record Shops for a Seventh Season

January 22, 2026
Behind the Counter returns for a seventh season with a brand-new 12-part video series, presented by Record Store Day and Classic Album Sundays in collaboration with Bowers & Wilkins, spotlighting inspirational independent record shops and the communities that sustain them across the UK. Following a previous season that reached over 5.6 million viewers, Behind the Counter enters its latest series as one of the largest-reaching and longest-running projects dedicated to UK record shop culture. Each episode offers an intimate look inside a different independent store, exploring how shop owners, staff, and customers continue to shape local music scenes and keep physical formats thriving. This year’s journey spans the length and breadth of the UK, featuring twelve distinctive record shops, each with its own identity and loyal following. · A Slice of Vinyl, Gosport · Applestump Records, Cheshire · Black City Records, Bristol · Carnival Records, Great Malvern · Farland Records, Penzance · Monorail Music, Glasgow · Roan Records, London · Saturnalia, Faversham · Underground Solution, Edinburgh · Vinyl Fetishes, Manchester · Vinyl Guru, Newcastle · Wrecking Ball, Hull From championing underground genres to acting as social spaces and cultural anchors, the series reveals a shared belief in the enduring power of records and the people who sell, collect and cherish them. New episodes will premiere every Tuesday at 10 AM GMT on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X (Twitter), and YouTube, in the lead up to Record Store Day which takes place on Saturday 18 th April.

Record Stores' Ones To Watch 2026

January 15, 2026
Record shops know what’s coming next. So we asked them. UK independent record stores were invited to nominate the local artists they believe are ones to watch for 2026. No hype. No algorithms. Just genuine recommendations from the people closest to the music. Together with Jack Daniel's and Metropolis Studios, we’ve collated and curated five standout artists tipped by record shops across the UK; a snapshot of what’s next, according to those who live and breathe vinyl every day.

ZO LIEF ANNOUNCED AS RECORD STORE DAY UNSIGNED WINNER

January 14, 2026
Record Store Day and Breed Media are delighted to announce Zo Lief as the winner of RSD Unsigned 2025, the nationwide competition celebrating the UK’s most exciting unsigned talent. Selected from hundreds of entries across the country, Zo Lief impressed the judging panel with their hypnotic and heavenly psychedelic dream-pop sound. Zo Lief is a Dutch/British duo, Laura Chen (vocals, guitar) and James Attwood (multi-instrumentalist), whose cinematic songs blend chamber pop, garage rock, and ’90s shoegaze. The panel included Karen Emanuel (CEO and Founder, Key Production Group & Breed Media), Emma Perks (Spinning Around Records), Elsie Chadwick (Head of Customer Services, Stamper Discs) and singer-songwriter Girli. As this year’s winners, Zo Lief will have their music pressed onto 500 vinyl records, courtesy of Breed Media - a music manufacturing and vinyl pressing agency which specialises in supporting emerging artists, after an exclusive mastering session at Abbey Road Studios, courtesy of RSD UK partner, Bowers & Wilkins. Zo Lief will also receive a pair of Bowers & Wilkins 607 S3 bookshelf speakers and a Marantz Stereo 70s amplifier to support their ongoing music creation journey. Zo Lief said: “Releasing our new EP 'Hypnosis' on vinyl is a real pinch me moment for the band - the cherry on top of 2025, which has been our busiest and most fun year yet. Having the EP available in physical form will give the songs a new lease of life, give us more opportunities to connect with and grow our fanbase/listenership, and ultimately, will keep the EP's momentum ongoing whilst we zealously work on our next release behind the scenes. As vinyl lovers and collectors, it's a dream come true to get our own music pressed on vinyl. We are beyond excited to soon be holding our music in our hands!” Karen Emanuel, CEO, Key Production Group & Breed Media, said: “This was such joy to listen to, and the band presented really professionally. They are deserving winners.” Emma Perks, owner of Spinning Around Records, said: “I was immediately drawn to the angelic vocals and indie-pop sound. I know their music will go down incredibly well with my customers in store, and I’m already keen to get one of those vinyl pressings spinning as soon as they’re ready.” Elsie Chadwick, Head of Customer Services, Stamper Discs, said: “I loved the dreamy pop combination of their guitar and vocals. I’m delighted they won, I could listen to this song again and again .” Girli, Singer-songwriter, said: “I love the fusion of influences in Zo Lief’s sound, the bright sounds and vocals are infectious, and the live show looks so captivating. It was such a privilege to be able to listen to so much incredible music while judging RSD Unsigned this year!” Record Store Day Unsigned, the competition supporting emerging UK artists, has previously helped acts including 4 The Brotherhood, Currls, Amy Fitz Doyley, and Heavy Rapids, many of whom have gone on to secure radio play, tours, and festival slots.
ALL ARTICLES