Yukimi Nagano’s pretty knackered. You’d think after a stint at SXSW her and her fellow Little Dragon members would be able to head back to their homes in Gothenburg for some well-deserved sleep. Instead, they’re stopping off in Germany and the UK on their way home to do some promo for their upcoming album Nabuma Rubberband. Sitting across from her in a London pub, it’s easy to see she’s tired, but happy in the knowledge that, that night, she’s finally on a plane home, and she can finally put the madness of SXSW behind her. ‘It was pretty crazy,’ she grins. Although we only played four shows. Some people play eight in two days!’
After the success of 2011’s Ritual Unions and a mammoth couple of years of touring, Little Dragon’s upcoming album is one of the most anticipated of the year. Set to be released in May, they've already slipped us a preview in the form of first single Klapp Klapp, a dizzying electro blend that fluctuates between soaring vocals and a ritualistic drum beat. Plus, it’s a got a video that’s a pretty spectacular mix of The Walking Dead and Naomie Harris’ character in Pirates of the Caribbean. Basically, it’s ace.
We spoke to Yukimi about Nabuma Rubberband, Janet Jackson and where she gets her amazing wardrobe from.
The Debrief: Who or what is a Nabuma Rubberband?
YN: Nabuma was the name of a girl the guys met in Uganda, years ago when they were playing with a reggae band. So it’s a Ugandan girl’s name. And I sang, ‘Blinded by the rubberband,’ in a chorus. So as a working title it just became Nabuma Rubberband. Then when we came to naming the tracks I just thought that it was so weird and beautiful that I kept it. It was awkward to have a little Chinese girl jumping up in the air (on the front cover) with an African name, with Rubberband as her surname. It felt like a surreal image somehow. We call her ‘our little muse’ – Nabuma the spirit of this record.
DB: Does the girl in Uganda know that the record’s named after her?
YN: No, she doesn’t.
DB
YN: Touring, touring. The worst thing is the travelling, sitting on planes. That is my least favourite thing to do and there is so much of it. So much time goes. The best things are the shows. It’s the reason why you’re doing it. When you have good shows, nothing can top that. It reminds me why you put in all the hard work. It’s really rewarding.
DB: Flying’s the worst, have you got any tips for nervous flyers?
YN: Listening to podcasts is good. And if you get scared, statistically it’s easier to die in a car crash. So fewer people die in plane crashes. Even with a little turbulence, no need to panic.
DB: Which podcasts do you listen to?
YN: NPR a lot. I listen to some Swedish news podcasts a lot, too, just because I totally miss out on that when I’m on the road.
DB: Is it quite easy to go a week without reading a newspaper?
YN: It’s terrible. I had an interview where someone was like, ‘What do you think about what is happening in Ukraine?’ and I was like, ‘What is happening in Ukraine?’ It’s terrible, really embarrassing. It’s so easy to be disconnected, to just go to hotels, shows… You don’t always have that free time to be online.
DB: Back to the album, you said Janet Jackson has been an influence. What, if push came to shove, is your favourite Janet song?
YN: Tonight's The Night and Anytime Anyplace.
DB: Are you into the whole Jackson clan or Janet specifically?
YN: Michael Jackson is undeniable, we all know that. Janet, I feel, is a bit underrated. She’s a superstar, but I only really discovered her this year. She has a lot of tracks that are freaky and sensual; kind of corny but amazing at the same time.
DB: How has the internet and social media changed things for you as a band?
YN: I don’t know, because I feel we’ve grown with it. I would ask Madonna that question. She’s an icon and now, all of a sudden, she has Instagram and it’s awkward. But I feel like we were there with MySpace, Facebook and Twitter. We don’t necessarily tweet what we are having for breakfast, but there is definitely a connection there that we have always had. I don’t know what it would be like not to have that.
DB: With Twitter do you notice that direct rapport with fans?
YN: It depends what kind of artist you are. Some people are super mysterious; some people are a character like Tyler the Creator. He’s a totally crazy, weird, obnoxious kid and it works. For us we’re kind of private people, but you can choose who you want to be.
DB: Everyone keeps telling me this is the year of Gothenburg. Where would you recommend for someone that’s heading there this summer?
YN: There’s a fish wagon that’s amazing. There are good gourmet sausage trucks if you’re into that. There’s a beautiful inspiring design shop called Artilleriet
and Hagabion, is a good little spot if you want a coffee
DB: Can you tell me about your incredible fashion? What’s your inspiration? Are there designers you draw from or icons from the past?
YN: When I get a chance, I look at blogs and get inspired. I get overwhelmed on the internet; there are so many new trends that are cool. I think Susie Bubble’s blog is great. She’s been around for a while and always puts up and coming people in as well as big designers. She’s one to check out for a general view.
DB: A plus of travelling must be checking out all the fashion in different cities. Is there a place that has particularly good?
YN: Austin Texas has a shop called Feathers. Which is like a boutique vintage shop. Austin is a great place for vintage. Tokyo is great, for all the fun little quirky things you can find. The classics – London and New York, if you’re rich, go for it. I like a cheap find and I’m really into the concept of recycling clothes. I’m all for that.
Follow Jess on Twitter @jess_commons
This article originally appeared on The Debrief.