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While Blur’s Damon Albarn, Kae Tempest, and Fontaines D.C. vocalist Grian Chatten are at the forefront of the track, they are backed by a choir which includes Pulp’s Jarvis Cocker, The Smiths’ Johnny Marr, The Libertines’ Carl Barat, Georgia Ellery and May Kershaw of Black Country, New Road, a 43-piece children’s choir, and more.
Alongside producer and engineer Marta Salogni (Björk, Frank Ocean, Black Midi), Toby L, and James Ford (Arctic Monkeys, Last Shadow Puppets), Albarn is also credited with production, while Kae Tempest contributes guitar alongside Marr, Portishead’s Adrian Utley, and David Okumu of The Invisble, and Ezra Collective’s Femi Koleoso holds down the drums.
Discussing the recording process, Albarn says: "Recording ‘Flags' was a genuinely joyful two days, with a strong sense of purpose throughout the building. I was particularly struck by the decision to employ children to do all the filming in the studio - it felt inspiring and directly reinforced the point we were trying to make about communicating with kids, by involving them in the process itself."
"I feel honoured to be a part of this project. I loved writing this song and collaborating with the other artists, it was like a fever dream that day at Abbey Road,” Kae Tempest continues, expanding on the collaboration. “Couldn’t believe how good it felt and the sheer force of will that shepherded all those energies together and directed them towards this beautiful conclusion. Me and Grian wrote our verses, responding to each other. We all worked together on Damon's lyrics. Damon had the melody but kept the lyrics free so we could find them all together. It was a true collaboration. It’s a great album and I hope we can raise lots of funds and energy. For the children."
Chatten adds: “To be gifted the chance to collaborate with such talented artists as Damon and Kae in aid of such an important cause was really special. Not to mention all of the incredible musicians who helped bring the song to life on the day. It’s a rare occasion that you feel the energy for change in such a tangible way and from so many, but that is exactly how it felt in the room that day.”
The HELP(2) album is a collaborative release inspired by the 1995 landmark release HELP, which was made to engage audiences in the work that War Child does to deliver immediate aid, education, specialist mental health support, and protection to children affected by conflict around the world.
HELP(2) features contributions from Arctic Monkeys, Anna Calvi, 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.
English (US) · 