Album Drop
Flea Announces Debut Solo Album ‘Honora,’ Shares Thom Yorke Collaboration
After nearly five decades as one of rock’s most distinctive bassists, Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Flea is stepping into a deeply personal new chapter. The musician has officially announced his debut solo album, Honora, set for release on March 27, 2026, via Nonesuch Records, alongside a supporting international tour.
The announcement arrives with the release of a new single, “Traffic Lights,” featuring Thom Yorke, marking a rare and striking collaboration between the RHCP legend and the Radiohead frontman.
A Return to Flea’s Jazz Roots
Long before stadium tours and funk-rock anthems, Flea began his musical journey as a trumpet player, immersed in jazz. Honora represents a return to those roots, blending jazz improvisation, experimental textures, and soulful songwriting.
Named after a beloved family member, the album was composed and arranged entirely by Flea, who performs both bass and trumpet across the record. While instrumental interplay is central to the album’s sound, Flea also sings, with guest vocals from Thom Yorke and Nick Cave.
Flea’s New Album ‘Honora’
An Eclectic Cast of Collaborators
Produced by acclaimed saxophonist Josh Johnson, Honora features a lineup that bridges jazz, rock, and experimental music. The album includes performances by Jeff Parker (guitar), Anna Butterss (bass), and Deantoni Parks (drums), with additional contributions from Mauro Refosco (Atoms for Peace, David Byrne) and Nate Walcott (Bright Eyes).
The tracklist blends six original compositions with carefully chosen covers, including Funkadelic’s “Maggot Brain,” Jimmy Webb’s “Wichita Lineman,” Frank Ocean’s “Thinkin Bout You,” and the jazz standard “Willow Weep for Me.” The album also includes the previously released track “A Plea.”
“Traffic Lights” Featuring Thom Yorke
The new single “Traffic Lights” was co-written by Flea, Josh Johnson, and Thom Yorke. Flea revealed that the track’s rhythm and atmosphere reminded him of Atoms for Peace, prompting him to send it to Yorke, who quickly connected with the song’s emotional core.
The result is a meditative, haunting piece that explores modern disorientation and emotional flux, accompanied by an animated visualizer.
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Flea and the Honora Band Tour Dates
To support the album, Flea and the Honora Band will embark on a limited tour across North America and Europe in May 2026. Highlights include New York’s Webster Hall (May 12) and London’s Koko (May 26), with the tour concluding in Paris on May 28.
While Flea with Red Hot Chili Peppers remains active, Honora positions Flea not as a band member, but as a composer and storyteller in his own right. Introspective, jazz-forward, and collaborative, the album promises a bold reintroduction to an artist still evolving decades into his career.
