Eric Krasno is one of several guest artists who will appear on 2ŁØT’s forthcoming sophomore album, RE/SOLVE. The five-piece band, who offer a blend of hip hop, funk, soul, jazz, rock and electronic music that they refer to as Electronic Jam Music (EJM), feature Krasno on the new single “Iris.” The track also boasts contributions from Bohorquez and Evan Weiss of the funk-jazz collective The Funky Knuckles. Though the full album will not be released until July 31, 2ŁØT recently dropped “Iris” as an advanced single. 

Bassist Robert Trusko explains the tune’s meanings like this: “To me, the song’s meaning is in the line, ‘Iris, you know how beautiful you are.’ It’s this idea of self-discovery and self-reflection, and learning your own potential after not knowing your own value or love.” 

“Iris” began during a week-long writing retreat at Matt Sorum’s Good Noise Studio in Palm Springs, CA, where the band experimented with spontaneous writing sessions by rotating members through different creative pairings. According to the album’s announce materials, “Trusko and drummer Omar Jahwar II first assembled the song’s rhythmic foundation before vocalist Rudy Love Jr. unexpectedly transformed the track with an improvised verse after hearing an experimental tempo switch inspired by producer J Dilla.”

Grammy-winning drummer Robert “Sput” Searight produced Omar Jahwar II’s drum performance. Sorum is best known for his time in The Cult, Guns N’ Roses and Velvet Revolver.

“We were clowning around pretty hard,” Trusko explained. “When Rudy heard the switch-up, he disappeared into the other room and came back with a verse almost immediately. That’s when we knew we had something.”

“We sent this one to Eric Krasno, and he came back with some really cool, interesting ideas,” Trusko said. “He brought out more of the funk elements and some blues influences over the switch-up.”

“It was a joy to get on this track with the 2ŁØT crew,” Krasno added. “I love what they do, and I connected with ‘Iris’ right away. The way they blend genres feels completely natural and creates a sound that’s uniquely their own. I was honored to be a part of it.”

“The aim is to mythologize the cyclical process of self-reflection, transformation, and self-actualization through a Campbellian archetypal lens,” vocalist Rudy Love Jr. said of the track. “The songs are specifically written and ordered to tell a story that takes the listener on this adventure with us.”

RE/SOLVE also features contributions from Jon Batiste, Robert Randolph, Elise Trouw, Cameron McCloud of Cure For Paranoia—who won the NPR Tiny Desk Contest earlier this year—Frank Moka and Mariel Jacoda. The California-based Krasno recently played a special show with Dawes and fellow guests Jenny Lewis and Lucius, among others, in Ojai, CA. The all-star jam session, which included Grateful Dead and Fleetwood Mac covers, was a memorial concert for Dawes’ tour manager.

Here’s a look at RE/SOLVE’s tracks

1. Entro

2. Die Empty

3. Tread (Ft. Frank Moka)

4. Favorite Star (Produced by Ry-X)

5. RE/SOLVE

6. I Hurt Myself Again (Ft. Elise Trouw & Cameron McCloud)

7. No Man’s Land

8. Lose My Mind

9. Come Together

10. Don’t Give Up On Me (Ft. Jon Batiste)

11. I Need You To Believe (Ft. Robert Randolph)

12. Stay Open

13. Alone With A Ghost

14. Iris (Ft. Eric Krasno)

15. Back Around

16. I Want It All (Ft. Mariel Jacoda)

Here’s a look at 2ŁØT’s upcoming dates

September 12 – Breakaway Music Festival, Philadelphia, PA

November 14 – Breakaway Music Festival, Houston, TX