AceShowbiz - Damon Albarn has announced his collaboration on a track for Pulp’s contribution to War Child’s upcoming album, Help(2). The song, titled Flags, also features contributions from Kae Tempest and Grian Chatten of Fontaines D.C.

The highly anticipated album is scheduled for release on March 6 via War Child Records, aiming to raise funds for young individuals whose lives have been disrupted by war and conflict. Fans can pre-order the album now.

This initiative follows the original Help album, released in 1995, which included iconic artists such as Oasis, Blur, Radiohead, and Portishead, among others. The new compilation boasts an impressive lineup, featuring big names like Beabadoobee, Depeche Mode, Wolf Alice’s Ellie Rowsell, and Olivia Rodrigo, along with many others.

The first look at the album was provided at the beginning of the year when Arctic Monkeys released their new single Opening Night, marking their return after a brief hiatus. Just recently, Damon Albarn, Grian Chatten, and Kae Tempest unveiled the powerful track Flags, showcasing the collaborative spirit of this charity project.

Damon Albarn, known for his work with Blur and Gorillaz, discussed his role in the project during an interview with Matt Wilkinson on Apple Music 1. He explained that Flags originated from his desire to experiment with writing in a major key, although he initially struggled with the concept.

“I tried, and one of the more successful outcomes was this sort of idea for a song called Flags,” he shared. “I didn’t want to develop it really, and then I was speaking with James [Ford, producer] and Toby [L, Transgressive Records co-founder]. And I thought, ‘well, I’ve got something if you’re interested that we could have a look at’.”

The collaboration then evolved as Grian Chatten and Kae Tempest joined the project, enriching the track with their unique styles and perspectives. Damon Albarn expressed his excitement about coming back for another War Child album, recalling his experience with Blur on the original 1995 release, where they shared the spotlight with fellow Britpop icons, Oasis.

Reflecting on their contribution, Albarn admitted, “I look back and I don’t really understand what I was doing,” referring to the song Eine kleine Lift Musik they released for the original album. His introspective comments underscore the lasting impact of these charity efforts and their significance in the music industry.

As anticipation builds for Help(2), music lovers are eager to see how these collaborations will come together to support a noble cause. With such a stellar lineup and heartfelt intentions, this album promises to make waves in both the music scene and the lives of those it aims to help.