2ŁØT Reveal Their Newest Track, “Iris”

There is no shortage of heavy conceptual language around 2ŁØT’s upcoming album RE/SOLVE. The band has described it as part of a “Second Hero’s Journey,” centred on self-reflection, transformation, and self-actualization. That could sound dense in advance. Then “Iris” arrives and makes the idea feel simple: growth can sound like a good groove, a kind chorus, and a room of players finding common ground.

The new single features Eric Krasno, the GRAMMY-winning guitarist known for his deeply musical approach to funk, soul, and jam-rooted playing. His part on “Iris” is immediately recognizable, especially in the way his wah-inflected guitar lines move around the rhythm rather than sitting on top of it. He gives the song a bit of grit and movement, which helps balance its gentler emotional tone.

“Iris” also features Ben Bohorquez and Evan Weiss of The Funky Knuckles, whose sax and trumpet work brighten the track without making it too glossy. Their contributions matter because the song is built on feel. The horns pull the arrangement toward soul and jazz, while the rhythm section keeps it elastic. Everything sounds carefully placed, though not overly polished.

The main lyric, “Iris, you know how beautiful you are,” could read as straightforward encouragement. In the song, it feels slightly deeper than that. Bassist Robert Trusko has said the line captures the idea of learning your own potential after failing to recognize your value. That interpretation gives the track a useful emotional frame. The song is not trying to rescue anyone. It is trying to name something that was already there.

The story of how “Iris” came together makes its looseness easier to understand. At Matt Sorum’s Good Noise Studio in Palm Springs, 2ŁØT held a writing retreat built around spontaneous pairings. Trusko and drummer Omar Jahwar II worked up the rhythmic core, then a J Dilla-inspired tempo switch sparked Rudy Love Jr. to disappear briefly and return with a verse. That moment of discovery remains audible in the finished track.

“Iris” arrives after a year in which 2ŁØT have been expanding quickly, collaborating with Aloe Blacc, Steve Aoki, Paul Oakenfold, Albert Harvey, Michael Kang of The String Cheese Incident, and now Krasno. The band’s hybrid sound can invite a long list of genre tags, but “Iris” shows their best lane may be the one where live musicianship and emotional directness meet. The song feels intentional without becoming stiff.

RE/SOLVE arrives July 31st and includes Jon Batiste, Robert Randolph, Elise Trouw, Cameron McCloud, Frank Moka, Mariel Jacoda, and others. That is an ambitious guest list, especially for a band still defining itself to a wider audience. “Iris” does a useful job of setting expectations. It suggests 2ŁØT are aiming for a record that can move between big ideas and human-scale songs, with enough groove to keep the whole thing breathing.

2ŁØT’s “Iris” single artwork