Stu Mendelson Turns Personal Experiences into Music with Powerful Christmas Single ‘We’re Still Here’
Bringing together veterans, military families and Military Wives Choirs, Stu Mendelson’s latest release is a musical celebration of resilience, creativity and the power of coming together.
Music can provide a voice for experiences that are sometimes difficult to put into words. For former British soldier and songwriter Stu Mendelson, discovering songwriting has opened an unexpected creative chapter, culminating in his original Christmas single, ‘We’re Still Here’.
Set for release on 11 November 2026, Armistice Day, the track brings together veterans from The Muster Point in Hertfordshire, Veterans in Crisis Sunderland and singers from Military Wives Choirs, featuring members of the Chicksands and Henlow choirs.
With approximately 25 contributors from the Armed Forces community involved in the recording, the single is a collaborative musical project with an ambitious goal: reaching the UK Christmas No.1 spot.
Discovering a New Creative Voice
Mendelson’s journey into songwriting began following the experience of creating last year’s Christmas project, ‘Do They Know It’s Muster Time?’, a military-themed reworking of Band Aid’s iconic festive song, ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’.
The project received approval from Sir Bob Geldof and reached No.60 on the iTunes chart, encouraging Mendelson to explore his own songwriting abilities.
Rather than simply revisiting the concept for another year, he decided to write something completely original. Drawing on his personal experiences and emotions, he began transforming his thoughts into lyrics, discovering that music offered a different way to communicate feelings that had previously been difficult to express.
For Mendelson, songwriting has become more than a musical pursuit. It provides a creative outlet, an opportunity for reflection and a way to connect with others through shared experiences.
A Collaboration Beyond Music
‘We’re Still Here’ brings together voices from different corners of the Armed Forces community, including veterans from Sunderland and Hertfordshire alongside members of Military Wives Choirs.
Six Sunderland veterans recorded their contributions at The Bunker, joined by Sunderland’s Mayor, Councillor Robert Hutchinson. Their participation adds another dimension to a project built around unity and recognising the experiences of both serving personnel and their families.
The involvement of Military Wives Choirs is particularly meaningful. Mendelson wanted the song to acknowledge that military service affects more than those wearing the uniform. Families also experience the uncertainty, responsibility and emotional challenges that come with life in the Armed Forces.
The result is a recording that brings together different generations and experiences through a shared musical message.
The Story Behind ‘We’re Still Here’
Having joined the British Army in 2005, Mendelson served as a Royal Engineer before being seriously injured by an improvised explosive device during deployment in Afghanistan in December 2009.
Following his military service, he experienced PTSD, mental health difficulties and addiction. Since achieving sobriety in 2023, he has dedicated himself to supporting other veterans, co-founding The Muster Point, a community organisation based in Stevenage.
His experiences have influenced the message behind ‘We’re Still Here’, which explores the challenges veterans and their families continue to face long after military conflicts disappear from the headlines.
However, Mendelson is keen to highlight that recovery and rebuilding a life after service can take many different forms. While some people find their direction through sport, writing or community projects, music has become an important part of his own journey.
Through this single, he hopes to encourage others to discover their own creative outlets and recognise the value of finding something that gives them purpose.
An Ambitious Christmas Campaign
With its Armistice Day release, ‘We’re Still Here’ will launch a campaign running through November and December, aiming to secure a place at the top of the UK Christmas singles chart.
Money generated by the record will help support Military Wives Choirs, The Muster Point and Veterans in Crisis Sunderland, contributing to their ongoing work with the Armed Forces community.
Ultimately, the project represents what can happen when people come together around a shared idea. From an unexpected introduction to songwriting to coordinating a nationwide musical collaboration, Mendelson has turned a personal creative discovery into something much bigger.
‘We’re Still Here’ is released on 11 November 2026 at 11:00am.
Listen and Follow Stu Mendelson
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6IkwfMapw4bMBFbncCS1D5
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stumendelson
The Muster Point: https://www.themusterpoint.org.uk
