New Music: Universal Soldier

           

The English electronic band Depeche Mode has just released the brand new track "Universal Soldier" via War Child Records. The track is out now as part of the charity compilation "HELP(2)", released last March 6, 2026, and is included alongside contributions from 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, Dove Ellis, Ellie Rowsell, English Teacher, Ezra Collective, Foals, Fontaines D.C., Graham Coxon, Greentea Peng, Grian Chatten, Kae Tempest, King Krule, Nilüfer Yanya, Oasis, Olivia Rodrigo, Pulp, Sampha, The Last Dinner Party, Wet Leg and Young Fathers.

New Music: Begging For Change

           

Pulp shares a new track "Begging for Change", which was recorded at Abbey Road and mixed by James Ford with backing support from Damon Albarn, comes from War Child's upcoming charity compilation record, Help(2), the follow-up to their initial 1995 compilation in aid of war-torn areas. Following contributions by Arctic Monkeys, Depeche Mode, Wet Leg, and more, Pulp’s ‘Begging for Change’ does exactly what it says on the tin – beckons you to straighten up and really think about the world around you. In keeping with this direct approach, Jarvis Cocker's accompanying remark on the track highlighted their previous efforts with War Child and what this new single means as a notable addition. Cocker said: "Thirty years ago, we gave our Mercury Prize (and the prize money) to War Child." "This year, we have given more. How much more? You’ll have to wait and see." The song was initially a throwaway from the band’s recent record, More. Well, not exactly – they'd worked on it during the sessions, but it wasn't immediately in the state they’d wanted to include it on the record. For War Child, they gave it another go, turning it into an anthemic rallying cry for change in today’' societally complacent world.

New Music: Opening Night

           

Arctic Monkeys have released "Opening Night", their first new song since 2022 album "The Car", with proceeds benefiting the charity War Child. Opening Night is taken from HELP(2), a sequel to War Child’s 1995 album Help, which brought together A-list music names to raise £1.2m for children affected by conflict, including Radiohead, Blur, Sinéad O’Connor and the Smokin’ Mojo Filters (a supergroup of Paul McCartney, Noel Gallagher and Paul Weller). The new compilation, released on 6 March, is similarly star-studded. As well as alumni from the 1995 album – Portishead’s Beth Gibbons and Blur’s Damon Albarn and Graham Coxon – and legends such as Pulp, Beck and Depeche Mode, there are a host of successful younger musicians including Olivia Rodrigo, Fontaines DC, Cameron Winter, Wet Leg and Sampha. The artwoek and visualizer has been done by Jonathan Glazer.