After a nearly five-decade career as one of his generation’s defining rock bassists, time and space have finally allowed Flea to work with a dream band of modern jazz visionaries, returning to his first instrument and musical love, the trumpet, for a new album that will be released in 2026 on Nonesuch Records. A preview, Flea’s original song, “A Plea,”is available today. Further details of the album will be announced in early 2026.Written and performed by Flea, “A Plea” urges listeners to “build a bridge, shine a light, make something beautiful and see somebody, give it to somebody.” Featuring Flea on electric bass, vocals, and trumpet, the ensemble also includes double bassist Anna Butterss and guitarist Jeff Parker, as well as drummer Deantoni Parks, percussionist Mauro Refosco, alto flutist Rickey Washington, and trombonist Vikram Devasthali. Chris Warren joins on vocals, as does the song’s producer Josh Johnson, who also plays alto saxophone.
The music video, directed by Los Angeles-based photographer and filmmaker Clara Balzary, and featuring choreography by Sadie Wilking, was also released today.
Listen to “A Plea”
Flea describes the song’s lyrics, which reflect on the divisiveness in our country and our world, as “yearning for a place beyond, a place of love, for me to speak my mind and be myself. I’m always just trying to be myself.” He continues, “I don’t care about the act of politics. I think there is a much more transcendent place above it where there’s discourse to be had that can actually help humanity, and actually help us all to live harmoniously and productively in a way that’s healthy for the world. There’s a place where we meet, and it’s love.”
“A Plea” Lyrics
(Civil War)
I hear it in the air
I feel it in the air
Who’s your neighbor, who’s your friend?
Ahh there’s hate all around
I don’t care about your fucking politics
I don’t wanna hear about your politics
Well, he said boo
She said hooray
Now we are human beings right here
Human beings
We’re here together
Come on
Whatcha gonna do?
Whatcha gonna do when it falls on you?
You’re scaring the kids
The beautiful kids
Ah yeah they wanna know
The children wanna know
Is the ugly coming, and the guns?
Is the army coming, blotting out the sun?
The blood red sun, the blood red sun
Ahhhhhhh concentration camps?
(Peace and Love)
My blood runs cold
I’m feeling hate all around
It’s no solution
It’s never been a solution
Come on
Are you with me?
We all know what it is
Build a bridge
Shine a light
Make something beautiful
I don’t care if it’s a little scrap of squiggly crayon on a paper
Make something beautiful and see somebody
Give it to somebody
I’m not being corny this shit is real
Live for peace
Live for love
It’s all we got
See the god in everyone
See the god
Come on with me
(The Æther)
Everyone just wants to be loved
See the god in everyone
Everyone leaves out no-one
And everything besides love is cowardice
You wanna be brave, you wanna be tough?
Peace and love is the toughest hardest thing you can do
Build a bridge that’s where the courage is
Shine your light
Shine it true
Yeah
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By: Bass Magazine