In solidarity with Ukraine, Pink Floyd will release their first new song since 1994

In support of the people of Ukraine, Pink Floyd is releasing their first new music since 1994. On April 8, the band will release the single “Hey Hey Rise Up.”

“Hey Hey Rise Up,” which features Ukrainian singer Andriy Khlyvnyuk (from the band Boombox) on vocals, will be the first original music of Pink Floyd since 1994’s The Division Bell.

The single’s proceeds will go to Ukrainian Humanitarian Relief. The track features David Gilmour and Nick Mason, as well as bassist Guy Pratt and composer Nitin Sawhney on keys.

The music was recorded just a few days ago. Khlyvnyuk’s vocals on the song are taken from a video he posted to Instagram last week of him singing in Kyiv’s Sofiyskaya Square.

Gilmour is a guitarist and singer who has a Ukrainian daughter-in-law and grandchildren.

Ahead of the single’s release, Gilmour spoke out against the Russian invasion of Ukraine. “We, like so many, have been feeling the fury and the frustration of this vile act of an independent, peaceful democratic country being invaded and having its people murdered by one of the world’s major powers,” he said.

“In 2015 I played a show at Koko in London in support of the Belarus Free Theatre, whose members have been imprisoned. Pussy Riot and the Ukrainian band Boombox were also on the bill. They were supposed to do their own set, but their singer Andriy had visa problems, so the rest of the band backed me for my set – we played “Wish You Were Here” for Andriy that night.

“Recently I read that Andriy had left his American tour with Boombox, had gone back to Ukraine, and joined up with the Territorial Defence,” he continued. “Then I saw this incredible video on Instagram, where he stands in a square in Kyiv with this beautiful gold-domed church and sings in the silence of a city with no traffic or background noise because of the war.

“It was a powerful moment that made me want to put it to music.”

Khlyvnyuk, who was recovering in hospital after being injured by mortar shrapnel, gave his blessing to the track.

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