About this item

Come Play With Me Records proudly present 'Next Up North: Class of 2025' on 10" Eco-mix vinyl. Next Up North is the first artist development programme specifically supporting emerging artists of marginalised communities from the North of England. For the inaugural edition, we are delighted to announce the 2025 cohort featuring: Sinead Campbell, Dee Rae, Zara Smile, Lucas Assagba. Special thanks to all of our incredibly supportive partners, without whom this project would have not been possible: Arts Council England, Breed Media, Crowdable, Eiger Studios, Glow Artists, Tileyard North, un:hurd music & Youth Music. 

Artist Bios:
Sinead Campbell is a Jamaican-Irish soul singer from the North of England, blending modern R&B with nostalgic soul, playful Jazz and raw, heartfelt storytelling. Her music is deeply rooted in identity, empowerment and ancestral connection - a reflection of her journey reconnecting with her African-Caribbean roots. Following standout live shows including sold-out hometown gigs, a BBC Introducing showcase, and being named one of Come Play With Me’s Next Up North artists in partnership with EMI North, Sinead is stepping fully into her artistry. Her upcoming EP Sankofa is the result of deep inner work - a vibrant, emotional offering rooted in reflection, healing, and self-acceptance. From the soft strength of Soothe Me and the empowering message of Stand, to the statement of pride in Brown Eyed Soul - this is her soul, poured out in full colour.


Dee Rae is a Manchester-based indie folk artist known for their vulnerable songwriting and authentic storytelling. Drawing inspiration from the likes of Laura Marling, Snail Mail, Marika Hackman, and Big Thief, Dee Rae’s music is as introspective as it is inclusive, creating a space where listeners can truly feel seen and understood. Their live shows have taken them across the UK, from London to Manchester, Leeds, and Liverpool, and in 2024, they made their international debut with a gig in Paris. Dee Rae has also shared the stage with acts like Francis of Delirium, Katy Kirby, Allegra Krieger and The Orielles, earning a reputation as a must-see live performer. Dee Rae’s rise has been fueled by their presence on social media, where their authenticity resonates with a growing, dedicated fanbase. In 2023, they were tapped by Dance to the Radio to perform at Live at Leeds Festival, and with backing from promoters like Now Wave, SJM, and Form, the momentum keeps building. Dee Rae is not just building a career, they are creating a community of listeners who connect deeply with their honest and inclusive sound.

Emerging alternative artist, Zara Smile captures audiences with their raw lyricism and electric energy on stage, a combination that will make you feel ignited and yet intimately connected with your inner feelings. With inspirations such as Black Country New Road, Laura Marling and Joni Mitchell combined with 2000s emo and Riot Grrrl punk, Smile focuses on telling their story and monologue through enchanting melodies and heart-soaring arrangements, bringing you closely into her world.

Lucas Assagba is a singer, songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist from Bradford. Her avant-garde indie sensibilities map out dynasties of realisation and growth, merging the world-filling elegance of Weyes Blood and Lucy Dacus with the unbridled audacity of Mitski and Paramore. While her genre-bending debut EP, ‘the Resolution’ dealt with the happiness that resides in sadness, its gritty follow-up, ‘What more could I ask you to do?’ deals with the fallout of finding resolve, and the melancholy that exists within the reclamation of sanity and security.

TRACK LISTING

SIDE A
Sinead Campbell - Brown Eyed Soul
Dee Rae - Strange Thing

SIDE B
Zara Smile - Fight Back
Lucas Assagba - Comet