Thom Yorke and Nick Cave to appear on Flea's debut solo album, Honora

Flea's solo debut arrives after over four decades as the founding member and bassist of Red Hot Chilli Peppers. Delving into his early love for jazz and playing trumpet, Flea composed and arranged the music on Honora, which is named after a close family member, while playing trumpet and bass throughout, alongside a band formed of jazz artists, including album producer and saxophonist Josh Johnson, guitarist Jeff Parker, bassist Anna Butterss, and drummer Deantoni Parks, with additional contributions from percussionist Mauro Refosco (David Byrne, Atoms for Peace) and multi-instrumentalist Nate Walcott (Bright Eyes). While Flea also performs vocals on the record, he is joined by Thom Yorke and Nick Cave.

Speaking of the process behind his new single "Traffic Lights", out today, Flea explains: “Deantoni and I played what became ‘Traffic Lights’ the first day. Something about it reminded me of Atoms for Peace, so I sent it to Thom. Just knowing him, I thought it would be a rhythm and a sensibility that he would relate to. And I was right, he did. With a gorgeous melody and the words, you know, about living in the ‘upside down’ and how do you make sense of things when we’re getting all this fake shit and real shit? Everyone has their ways of dealing with the world. But he’s just the warmest, free flowing, jamming motherf*cker.”

The album features original compositions by Flea, as well as interpretations of songs George Clinton, Jimmy Webb, and Frank Ocean. Although Flea had some reservations about how he'd be perceived by his fellow band members while making Honora as a “a non-playing motherf*cker, charlatan, rock poseur or fan" transitoning into the jazz world, he explains: “It turns out they were all the most genuinely supportive people, moving me deeply and daily with their generous spirits… Sitting in a room and playing the music with them made me feel like I was on drugs. I was buzzing, tripping and floating around the studio. I love them, they truly gave of themselves. I bow all the way down.”

Following the album's release, Flea is set to hit the road with his band for a run of intimate venue shows. The tour will kick off in Chicago on 7 May, with stops in Toronto (9 May), Montreal (10 May), New York (12 May), Washington D.C. (12 May), Los Angeles (16 May), Berlin (21 May), Amsterdam (22 May), and London at KOKO (26 May) before concluding in Paris (28 May).

Honora tracklist

"Golden Wingship"
"A Plea"
"Traffic Lights"
"Frailed"
"Morning Cry"
"Maggot Brain"
"Wichita Lineman"
"Thinkin Bout You"
"Willow Weep for Me"
"Free As I Want to Be"