By Colin 
Lucas Assagba is set to release her latest single, ‘Nosebleeds’, on 28th August 2025 via Come Play With Me Records. The track will be the penultimate release in the label’s artist development programme Next Up North, which supports emerging artists of marginalised genders and sexualities from the North of England.
‘Nosebleeds’ begins with a lone guitar melody before building into a full sonic release. The song narrates the emotionally turbulent process of navigating post-traumatic stress. Its cathartic sound pairs the emotional intensity of Mitski and Lucy Dacus with the indie-rock edge of Alvvays and Miya Folick. The result is a track that reflects the slow exhale that comes with the passage of time.
The single is co-produced by Ben Parry (Fuzz Lightyear) and mastered by Dom Richmond (Van Houten). Featuring searing guitars, explosive percussion and Lucas’ emotion-drenched vocals, it highlights her ability to fuse raw lyricism with immersive sound. The combination of diaristic lyrics and experimental arrangement continues to define her evolving catalogue.
“Sometimes, songs just fall out of the sky and into your lap, and this was one of those times,” says Lucas. “The whole track materialised over the course of 24 hours. It was as if months’ worth of tears and stress had led to this one moment. I was just coming out of a really strange space in my life, and I couldn’t gather my thoughts about the stress I felt and how it had evolved over the past six months. I really love writing about the passage of time, and I suppose the whole song is about the changing of the seasons and how it affects our lives.”
Set to appear on her new EP
‘Nosebleeds’ follows recent single ‘Comet’, which was featured on Vevo’s Emerging Artist playlist. Both tracks are taken from her upcoming EP, What more could I ask you to do. The new project will explore the melancholy that exists within the reclamation of sanity and security. It contrasts with her debut EP, the Resolution, which focused on the happiness found within sadness.
Lucas has already brought her music to live stages across the North of England. She supported Jasmine 4.t at a sold-out headline show in Manchester and performed with Fantasy of a Broken Heart at Leeds’ Hyde Park Book Club earlier this year. These appearances have helped build anticipation for her next release.
She is one of four artists currently supported by Next Up North, alongside Dee Rae, Sinead Campbell and Zara Smile. The programme is run by Leeds-based label Come Play With Me Records with support from Arts Council England, Breed Media, Tileyard North and Glow Artists. A live session version of ‘Nosebleeds’ is featured on the Next Up North: Class of 2025 vinyl compilation, recorded at Eiger Studios and available now.