Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea is about to step into uncharted territory with his first solo jazz album, Honora, dropping March 27. But while he’s exploring free jazz and trumpet-led compositions, the Chili Peppers aren’t sitting idle. Could the band be working on a new album?

In a recent print interview with MOJO (via Guitar.com) Flea opened up about the band’s current studio activity. “We’ve been writing music together, recording at [guitarist] John Frusciante’s house, and the music feels great,” he said. “Ultimately, once we start playing, it’s about … just catching a magic groove and doing it good.”

For Flea, that “magic groove” isn’t just a phrase; it’s the heartbeat of his creative process. On Honora, it translates into an exploration of free jazz alongside some of today’s best jazz musicians, revealing sides of Flea the world hasn’t seen in his decades with the Chili Peppers.

He goes on:

“It’s like being in a marriage with four people that’s always moving and changing, all these challenges and all the things that you have to deal with. Egos are inescapable, and my ego is as big and as fragile as anybody’s. But it’s always, no matter what, this intrinsic part of who I am, and it’s alive, and it’s beautiful, and you never know what shape it’s going to take next. I really feel like that right now.”

Flea’s creative cross-pollination, from decades of funk-rock with the Chili Peppers to his solo jazz explorations, seems to be energizing both projects. Honora is a vivid testament to his musical curiosity, blending trumpet, improvisation, and the spontaneity that has always defined his work.

As for the Chili Peppers, it’s been a few quiet years since Return of the Dream Canteen in 2022, the follow-up to Unlimited Love, both recorded in the same whirlwind sessions. That rapid-fire release schedule was a first for the band, so a pause was somewhat expected. But Flea’s recent comments hint that the creative engine is firing again.

Honora is out March 27 via Nonsuch Records. Available for pre-order here.