Thom Yorke co-writes and sings Flea's new single “Traffic Lights”

Flea has announced Honora, his first solo album, out on Nonesuch on 27 March, and released its second single, “Traffic Lights”, which Thom Yorke co-wrote and sings. The two played together in Atoms for Peace, and Deantoni Parks is the album's drummer. 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.²

Flea thought the rhythm and the feel were something Yorke would relate to, and he did. Yorke sent back what Flea calls a gorgeous melody, with words about living in the “upside down” and making sense of things amid so much that is fake and real. Flea says Yorke is the warmest, most free-flowing musician to jam with. Yorke wrote the song with Flea and the saxophonist Josh Johnson, and on the record he plays piano and synth as well as singing. Flea plays bass and trumpet, and Mauro Refosco, the percussionist in Atoms for Peace, is on it too.

Johnson produced Honora, which was recorded at Sunset Sound in Hollywood in February 2025 and is named after a member of Flea's family. Six of its ten tracks are Flea's own; the four covers include Funkadelic's “Maggot Brain” and “Wichita Lineman”, sung by Nick Cave, the album's other guest singer. Flea learned jazz trumpet before he took up the bass at 16, and plays both throughout. His only solo release until now is the 2012 EP Helen Burns.

Flea and the Honora Band tour in May, with one UK date, at Koko in Camden.

Flea and the Honora Band, May 2026

Honora came out on 27 March, and John Mulvey gave it four stars in MOJO, crediting the Los Angeles jazz players more than the famous guests.