Artist News Releases

Belle And Sebastian release single in aid of Ukraine relief

By Andy Malt | Published on Tuesday 15 March 2022

Belle And Sebastian have released new single ‘If They’re Shooting At You’ in support of those affected by the war in Ukraine.

The band will donate all income from sales and streams of the song to the Red Cross. Money raised through sales on Bandcamp up to 18 Mar will also be matched by the UK government as part of the joint appeal with the Disasters Emergency Committee.

“When the situation in Ukraine first started to happen it became clear that the lives of the people there, and probably ‘ours’ too, were never going to be the same”, says the band’s Stuart Murdoch. ”The band had just started rolling out tracks for our new album, and it all felt a bit silly to be honest”.

“We had one track called ‘If They’re Shooting At You’”, he goes on. “It’s a song about being lost, broken and under threat of violence. The key line is ‘if they’re shooting at you kid you must be doing something right’. We stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine and hope that their pain and suffering can be brought to a halt as soon as possible”.

The video for the song was made in collaboration with photographers covering the conflict. Murdoch explains: “We got in touch with various photographers and creatives in Ukraine and they generously said that we could put their pictures to music”.

“In creating this we aspire to show a hopeful, defiant side, as well as bringing an awareness to the plight of the people there”, he adds. “We think any way in which we can get behind Ukraine – politically, culturally, practically, spiritually – it must all add up in the end. Together we have to do what it takes to help Ukraine beat this tyranny”.

Watch the video for ‘If They’re Shooting At You’ here, where you’ll also find details of how to donate directly to the Red Cross appeal.