Black Eyed Peas' Taboo Writes Song About Fire Evacuation
'When we were fleeing the fire, not knowing if our home would survive, I thought: this would make a great hook.'
[Taboo in recording studio working on disaster-themed single]
Taboo at East West Studios, processing trauma through the medium of a mid-tempo ballad
Jaime Luis Gomez, better known as Taboo of the Black Eyed Peas, has announced the release of a new song inspired by his family’s evacuation during the January 2025 wildfires—proving once again that no human experience is so harrowing that it cannot be monetized.
“When we were fleeing the fire, not knowing if our home would survive, watching the orange glow in the rearview mirror, I thought: this would make a great hook,” Taboo told reporters at a press event promoting the track. “Art comes from pain, you know? And this was definitely painful. Also very marketable.”
Track Details
- Title: “Flames Can’t Touch Us”
- Runtime: 3:47
- Tempo: Mid, emotional
- Features: Inspirational bridge, children’s choir
- Available: All streaming platforms
The song, titled “Flames Can’t Touch Us,” is described as a “mid-tempo anthem of resilience” that features a soaring chorus, a children’s choir, and what publicists call “authentic emotional vulnerability set to a radio-friendly beat.”
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We packed up our lives in the middle of the night / Running from the fire, but our spirit shines bright / LA strong, we’ll rebuild what we lost / Every dream has its cost, every dream has its cost
Critics have had mixed reactions to the track. Some praise its catchy melody and uplifting message. Others question the timing and note that the song was released approximately three weeks after the fires, which they describe as “impressively rapid turnaround on trauma processing.”
“I think it’s great that artists want to express their experiences,” said music critic Dana Park. “I also think there’s something slightly uncomfortable about a song that turns a disaster that killed people into a streaming opportunity. But that’s the music industry. That’s content culture. We are all brands now.”
Taboo defended the song’s quick release, noting that “art doesn’t wait” and that he wanted to capture the emotion while it was still fresh. “I was literally in my car, stuck in evacuation traffic, writing lyrics on my phone,” he explained. “My family was crying. I was crying. But also, I was working. That’s the artist’s burden.”
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A portion of proceeds will go to fire relief charities. The amount of that portion is still being determined by our accounting team.
The song includes a spoken-word section in which Taboo thanks first responders, a common feature in disaster-themed music that allows artists to demonstrate civic-mindedness while maintaining radio airplay viability.
Fellow Black Eyed Pea will.i.am has expressed support for the track, tweeting: “My brother Taboo turned pain into purpose. That’s what artists do. Also please stream the song it’s very good.”
Fergie, former member of the group, has not commented, as she has not commented on anything related to the Black Eyed Peas since 2017.
“Flames Can’t Touch Us” is currently available on all major streaming platforms. A music video, featuring drone footage of burned neighborhoods intercut with images of community resilience, is expected to drop next week.
Taboo says he hopes the song brings comfort to fellow fire survivors. “When you’re going through something hard, sometimes you just need a song that says, ‘Hey, I see you,’” he explained. “And also that has good hooks. Good hooks are important.”