Janet Devlin on the ups and downs of her ‘Emotional Rodeo’
By McKayla Grace
We last chatted with Northern Irish singer/songwriter Janet Devlin following the release of her 2020 album “Confessional.” Four years later, she’s back with a country twist in “Emotional Rodeo.”
The idea of an up-and-coming Celtic pop singer going country may shock at first. But give the first track “Cigarette Dreams” a spin and you’ll eat your words. Janet retains that unmistakable Irish accent and blends it beautifully with a sultry country lilt.
Country is a favorite genre where she grew up and each visit to Nashville affirms her choice to settle in that musical space as she sings along to every song flowing out of the bars on Broadway.
Her Irish accent isn’t the only residual element Janet brings into this new album. “Confessional” was her way to verbalize and process some angst she felt from her religious upbringing. But there’s no bad blood here. Her faith is an integral part of her daily life, and the vocabulary naturally made its way into this album too. In country music, she feels more free to express that part of herself, where it felt a bit taboo in the pop sphere.
Before “Emotional Rodeo,” before “Confessional” and before anyone outside Northern Ireland knew Janet Devlin, she was a finalist on X Factor UK in 2011. But following her departure from the show, Janet chose the road less traveled, rejecting record deals that wouldn’t allow her the authentic creative direction she knew she needed in order to cut her writing chops and test her own ability in that space.
“I already felt like such an impostor [on the show] because all you're known for is your personality and singing other people's songs,” said Devlin. “So I just couldn't. My soul wouldn't let me.”
She has no regrets about taking the longer route to get where she is today: “I've gotten to learn so much, and that really was the benefit of doing it young. I've gotten to make so much music and learn so many lessons and no one's allowed to say that I took a backdoor entry into the industry after working for ten years plus.”
There is no denying Janet put in the work to get here. Since the beginning, her original tracks have always been authentic to who she is and her unique personal experiences, weaving in angst, wit, heartbreak and some silliness.
Her newest single and music video “Back to My Senses” is one of the more somber numbers on “Emotional Rodeo,” reflecting on a relationship lost and redeemed following an intense struggle with mental health. The video is as authentic and stripped down as the lyrics, featuring Janet seated and singing to a camera with over-ears and a recording mic in hand, looking like she would if she were singing live to an audience on TikTok.
“Back to My Senses” isn’t the only track that touches on her emotional journey through sobriety. Since BBC aired its 2022 documentary “Janet Devlin: Young, Female and Addicted,” the soulful singer has been approached countless times by strangers thanking her for opening this window into her life and showing them how to let the light in. She hopes that “Best Life” can provide space to stop, breathe and remember life is worth living and that it does get better.
Although she’s an expert when it comes to inspiring lyrics and moving chord progressions, she also knows how to lighten the mood when you need a laugh. Tracks like “Daddy,” “Country Singer” and “Catfishin’” are tongue-in-cheek testaments to the way young women are moving the country genre forward while honoring its icons like Dolly Parton, Chris Stapleton and Martina McBride.
Her appreciation for the greats that have gone before and her natural humility are endearing, ensuring anyone who meets her is rooting for her and knows this “Emotional Rodeo” is only the beginning of an exciting chapter for Janet Devlin.
One last note from Janet: She wants the world to know that she’s a horse girl deep in her bones, and that album cover is not AI-generated. When she’s not traveling, recording and touring, she’s riding. And that’s just the way she likes it.
See more of Janet Devlin on Instagram @janetdevlinofficial.