Honora (album)

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Honora
Studio album by
Flea
ReleasedMarch 27, 2026 (2026-03-27)
RecordedFebruary 2025[1]
Studio
GenreJazz
Length51:12
LabelNonesuch
ProducerJosh Johnson
Flea chronology
Helen Burns
(2013)		 Honora
(2026)
Singles from Honora
  1. "A Plea"
    Released: December 2, 2025
  2. "Traffic Lights"
    Released: January 14, 2026
  3. "Thinkin Bout You"
    Released: February 11, 2026

Honora is the debut solo album by Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea, released on March 27, 2026, through Nonesuch.[2] It was produced by Josh Johnson. The album was inspired by Flea's love for jazz, and features six original songs along with covers of songs originally by Eddie Hazel and George Clinton, Jimmy Webb, Frank Ocean and Shea Taylor, and Ann Ronell.[3]

Flea provided spoken-word vocals, bass and trumpet. Thom Yorke and Nick Cave provided guest vocals.[4] Johnson performed saxophone and keyboards, and the backing band features guitarist Jeff Parker, bassist Anna Butterss, and drummer Deantoni Parks, with additional contributions from Mauro Refosco and Nathaniel Walcott and two other members of the Red Hot Chili Peppers.[5]

The first single, "A Plea", was released on December 2, 2025; the release included a music video directed by Flea's daughter Clara Balzary. It was followed by "Traffic Lights", featuring Yorke. A music video directed by nespy5euro was released to promote the song. The third single, an instrumental cover of Frank Ocean's "Thinkin Bout You", was released on February 11, 2026. The album will be promoted by a short tour in May 2026.[6]

The album was named after Flea's great-great-grandmother and inspired by her difficulties with poverty in Ireland and her immigration to Australia.[7] The cover art features a 1960s photo of Flea's mother-in-law Shahin Badiyan in Iran.[8]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?7.2/10[9]
Metacritic75/100[10]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStarStarHalf star[11]
The Arts DeskStarStarStarStar[12]
Clash8/10[13]
Exclaim!7/10[14]
The GuardianStarStarStarStar[15]
The Line of Best Fit8/10[16]
MojoStarStarStarStar[17]
NMEStarStarStarStar[18]
Pitchfork7.3/10[19]
UncutStarStarStarStar[20]

According to the review aggregator Metacritic, Honora received "generally favorable reviews" based on a weighted average score of 75 out of 100 from fourteen critic scores.[10] The review aggregator Any Decent Music gave the album a weighted average score of 7.2 out of 10 from fourteen critic scores.[9]

The publication Mojo wrote a review in which it states that "Flea proves to be a nice rather than barnstorming trumpeter, albeit a subtly ambitious one". [17] Meanwhile, The Guardian wrote that "Honora is never dilettantish, but sincere, exploratory, and soulful". [15]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Flea, except where noted.

Honora track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Golden Wingship" 1:01
2."A Plea" 7:39
3."Traffic Lights" (featuring Thom Yorke)
  • Flea
  • Yorke
  • Josh Johnson
5:41
4."Frailed" 10:50
5."Morning Cry" 3:31
6."Maggot Brain"
4:52
7."Wichita Lineman" (featuring Nick Cave)Jimmy Webb4:22
8."Thinkin Bout You"
4:10
9."Willow Weep for Me"Ann Ronnell3:53
10."Free As I Want to Be" 5:13
Total length:51:12

Personnel

Credits are adapted from the album's liner notes.[1]

Musicians

Technical and creative

  • Josh Johnson – production
  • Clint Welander – recording
  • Ryan Hewitt – mixing (1–8, 10), additional mixing (9)
  • John Frusciante – mixing (9)
  • Luis Almau – additional recording (7), photography of Warren Ellis
  • Eric Boulanger – mastering
  • Melody Ehsani – design
  • Kelsey Kay – design
  • Shahin Badiyan – cover model
  • Gavin Bowden – interior photography
  • Colin Greenwood – photography of Nick Cave
  • Chris Warren – technical support
  • Maya Bouvier-Lyons – additional design, coordination

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for Honora
Chart (2026) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[21] 22
Australian Jazz & Blues Albums (ARIA)[22] 1
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[23] 34
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[24] 10
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[25] 8
Croatian International Albums (HDU)[26] 5
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[27] 23
French Albums (SNEP)[28] 44
French Jazz Albums (SNEP)[29] 1
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[30] 32
Greek Albums (IFPI)[31] 7
Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ)[32] 31
Italian Albums (FIMI)[33] 86
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[34] 24
Japanese Digital Albums (Oricon)[35] 21
Japanese Download Albums (Billboard Japan)[36] 22
Japanese Top Albums Sales (Billboard Japan)[37] 32
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[38] 20
Polish Albums (ZPAV)[39] 26
Portuguese Albums (AFP)[40] 38
Scottish Albums (OCC)[41] 24
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[42] 8
UK Albums Sales (OCC)[43] 20
UK Jazz & Blues Albums (OCC)[44] 1
US Top Album Sales (Billboard)[45] 16
US Top Jazz Albums (Billboard)[46] 2
US Top Contemporary Jazz Albums (Billboard)[47] 2

Monthly charts

Monthly chart performance for Honora
Chart (2026) Peak
position
Croatian International Vinyls (HDU)[48] 1
German Jazz Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[49] 1

References

  1. Honora (Media notes). Flea. Nonesuch Records. March 27, 2026.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  2. "Red Hot Chili Peppers' bass icon Flea to release jazz-fuelled debut solo album, Honora". Jazzwise. Retrieved January 15, 2026.
  3. Boisvert, Lauren (December 4, 2025). "Flea Announces Debut Solo Album in a Distinct Departure From 40-Year Red Hot Chili Peppers Instrument". Vice News. Retrieved December 6, 2025.
  4. Skinner, Tom (January 14, 2026). "Red Hot Chili Peppers' Flea announces debut solo album 'Honora' – featuring Nick Cave and Thom Yorke – along with intimate North American, UK and European tour". NME. Retrieved January 15, 2026.
  5. Pearls, Bill (January 14, 2026). "Flea announces debut solo album & tour, shares "Traffic Lights" ft Thom Yorke". Brooklyn Vegan. Retrieved January 14, 2026.
  6. Madarang, Charisma (January 14, 2026). "Flea Reveals Debut Solo Album 'Honora' Release Date, Announces Tour". Rolling Stone. Retrieved January 15, 2026.
  7. "Why I Didn't Release This Part Of The Flea Interview". YouTube. Rick Beato. Retrieved April 3, 2026. Relevant segment begins at 16:40
  8. "Flea - This is the cover for my record HONORA, coming out..." Facebook.com. Retrieved March 18, 2026.
  9. "Honora by Flea reviews". Any Decent Music. Retrieved March 28, 2026.
  10. "Honora". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved March 31, 2026.
  11. Jurek, Thom (March 27, 2026). "Honora - Flea / Flea". AllMusic. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
  12. Oddy, Guy (March 23, 2026). "Flea gets all jazzy on his solo album, 'Honora'". The Arts Desk. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
  13. Broyd, Ben (March 26, 2026). "Flea - Honora | Reviews". Clash. ISSN 1743-0801. Archived from the original on March 27, 2026. Retrieved March 27, 2026.
  14. Hudson, Alex (March 27, 2026). "Flea Captures a Lifetime's Worth of Jazz Experiments in 'Honora'". Exclaim!. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
  15. Simpson, Dave (March 27, 2026). "Flea: Honora review – Chili Pepper turns piper, taking up trumpet for a soulful jazz odyssey". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved April 9, 2026.
  16. Oinonen, Janne (March 26, 2026). "Flea: Honora review - an atmospheric gem". Line of Best Fit. ISSN 2754-7469. Archived from the original on March 26, 2026. Retrieved March 27, 2026.
  17. "Flea Honora Review: Chili Pepper pivots into jazz". Mojo. March 25, 2026. Retrieved April 9, 2026.
  18. Flood, Alex (March 31, 2026). "Flea – 'Honora' review: the Chili Pepper's jazzy, comforting debut leans back hard". NME. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
  19. Garner, Sadie Sartini (March 28, 2026). "Honora - Flea". Pitchfork. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
  20. Richards, Sam (March 12, 2026). "Flea's Honora reviewed: serial sideman finally gets to blow his own trumpet". Uncut. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
  21. "ARIA Top 50 Albums Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. April 6, 2026. Retrieved April 3, 2026.
  22. "ARIA Top 20 Jazz & Blues Albums Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. April 6, 2026. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
  23. "Austriancharts.at – Flea – Honora" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved April 4, 2026.
  24. "Ultratop.be – Flea – Honora" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved April 5, 2026.
  25. "Ultratop.be – Flea – Honora" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved April 5, 2026.
  26. "Lista prodaje 17. tjedan 2026. (20.04.2026. - 26.04.2026.)" (in Croatian). Top lista. April 26, 2026. Archived from the original on May 6, 2026. Retrieved May 6, 2026.
  27. "Dutchcharts.nl – Flea – Honora" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved April 4, 2026.
  28. "Top Albums (Semaine du 3 avril 2026)". Syndicat national de l'édition phonographique. Retrieved April 7, 2026.
  29. "Top Albums Jazz (Semaine du 3 avril 2026)" (in French). Syndicat national de l'édition phonographique. Retrieved April 7, 2026.
  30. "Offiziellecharts.de – Flea – Honora" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved April 4, 2026.
  31. "Official IFPI Charts Top-100 Albums Sales Chart (Combined) – Εβδομάδα: 18/2026" (in Greek). IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on May 13, 2026. Retrieved May 13, 2026.
  32. "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2026. 14. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved April 9, 2026.
  33. "Album – Classifica settimanale WK 14 (dal 27.03.2026 al 02.04.2026)" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved April 4, 2026.
  34. "Oricon Top 50 Albums: 2026-04-06" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved April 1, 2026.
  35. "Oricon Top 50 Digital Albums: 2026-04-06" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on April 1, 2026. Retrieved April 1, 2026.
  36. "Billboard Japan Download Albums – April 1, 2026". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved April 2, 2026.
  37. "Billboard Japan Top Albums Sales – April 1, 2026". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved April 2, 2026.
  38. "Official Top 40 Albums". Recorded Music NZ. April 3, 2026. Retrieved April 3, 2026.
  39. "OLiS - oficjalna lista sprzedaży - albumy" (in Polish). OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Note: Change the date to 27.03.2026–02.04.2026 under "zmień zakres od–do:". Retrieved April 9, 2026.
  40. "Top 200 Álbuns Semana 14 de 2026" (PDF) (in European Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. p. 2. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
  41. "Official Scottish Albums Chart on 3/4/2026 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 4, 2026.
  42. "Swisscharts.com – Flea – Honora". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 6, 2026.
  43. "Official Albums Sales Chart: 3 April 2026 – 9 April 2026". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 4, 2026.
  44. "Official Jazz & Blues Albums Chart on 3/4/2026 – Top 30". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 4, 2026.
  45. "Top Album Sales: Week of April 11, 2026". Billboard. Retrieved April 7, 2026.
  46. "Jazz Albums: Week of April 11, 2026". Billboard. Retrieved April 7, 2026.
  47. "Contemporary Jazz Albums: Week of April 11, 2026". Billboard. Retrieved April 7, 2026.
  48. "Top lista vinila – Strana – 04/2026" (in Croatian). Top lista. Retrieved June 13, 2026.
  49. "Offizielle Deutsche Charts Top 20 Jazz-Charts – April 2026" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved April 10, 2026.