Flying solo is a state of independence, a sense of liberation, an intrepid yet intimate act. For singer-songwriter Yukimi Nagano, the celebrated vocalist and co-founder of Grammy-nominated outfit Little Dragon, it is all these things and more. Yukimi’s debut solo album, For You, sees her step away from a band formation while staying with the always innovative Ninja Tune label – and creating some of her most beautiful work to date: both intensely personal, and brilliantly relatable.

Yukimi’s voice remains unmistakeable on For You; she elegantly entwines musical styles from jazz, soul and electronic pop to hip hop, roots and psychedelia, but her new song themes dig deeper than ever, across love, loss, feminine energy and innate resilience. Her decision to take a solo route also marks a new chapter in her accomplishments, which have included seven acclaimed albums with Little Dragon (most recently, 2023’s Slugs Of Love), and memorable guest spots with acts such as Gorillaz, De La Soul, DJ Shadow, SBTRKT and BADBADNOTGOOD, as well as becoming a mother to two young children.

“When I originally thought about making a solo record, it was more than a gut feeling,” explains Yukimi. “When I said it to myself, it felt so right, and there wasn’t any sadness at all. As life moves, some of the things that you’re originally scared of become not scary at all. Once the idea unfolds in the moment, you’re like: ‘Yeah, of course I’m supposed to take this path!’

“One of the things I’m really enjoying is being able to make the decisions by myself. I feel like previously, there was a part of me I hadn’t been able to show in the music, because it hasn’t always been the fair thing in a democratic band situation. Now, I just go ahead and try what I want, and that process has been absolutely lovely, just to feel free.”

While this album certainly represents a significant turning point for Yukimi, it is also very intentionally entitled: For You. As she notes: “For me, when songwriting is personal, it also becomes very accessible, because we’re not that different from one another.”

Yukimi has been building to this moment. Born in Gothenburg to an American mother and Japanese father, her love of music blossomed in childhood, and became a professional career in her teens. She soon began to write and sing her own material. When a famous Swedish pop hit factory approached her to sing their tunes, she declined – instead, she seized creative adventures with Little Dragon: a band she’d co-founded with high school friends in 1996.

The 12 exhilaratingly far-ranging tracks on For You celebrate Yukimi’s independent spirit, but they also prove she has never been a solitary soul. The album is lushly co-produced with her Little Dragon bandmate and long-time friend Erik Bodin, who also produced Yukimi’s new compositions. “I’m definitely a team player,” she confirms. “I think my studio is my safe space, and Erik is such a close friend, I feel in my comfort zone when I’m writing with him.”

Yukimi also finds a kindred creative spirit in another talented collaborator: British singer-songwriter Lianne La Havas, who collaborates on songs including the distinctly tender confessional “Stream Of Consciousness”. Yukimi beams: “Lianne came in like a force of nature. We really boosted and inspired each other, which was such a beautiful thing.”

The album’s opening track “Make Me Whole” sets a dreamy, elated tone, along with Yukimi’s characteristically lucid lyrics about desire and potential; the song, incidentally, was sparked on the road in Atlantic City, while on US tour with Little Dragon. “It’s a song about the need to feel fulfilled, and how that applies to us in different ways,” she says. “Sometimes, we just pass through places that leave a strong impression; they’re like juice for writing music.