Janet Devlin made a breakthrough comeback with the empowering hit ‘Emotional Rodeo’, racing to #4 on the iTunes Country Charts. As anticipation builds for her upcoming country-rock album, her latest single ‘Country Singer’ has accelerated in as a bold declaration of independence. We caught up with Janet about the single, and what to expect next…
Hi Janet, congratulations on the release of ‘Country Singer’. What does this song mean to you?
For me it means the end to begging for the affection of a partner! A lesson that took a long time to learn as i never knew when to let go. I’d bend and break myself to be what my love interest wanted. But luckily now, after years of work, I don’t!
Is the song’s message aimed at female listeners in particular, and why?
Maybe not aimed at them but i definitely considered what me and my girlfriends would want to shout out in a bar post breakup when writing the chorus haha just to have that affirmation in there that felt true to moving on.
Alongside an empowering country-rock sound, you’ve dived into the aesthetics of the genre. Do you find it important to form a strong connection visuals and sound?
I’m just a fan of dressing up! That doesn’t necessarily even mean a “costume”. I just find that by marrying up the sonics to the visuals you feel like you’re stepping into a new chapter of yourself. It’s that “dress for the job you want” haha I also find it makes me more confident.
You recently electrified in the music video for ‘Emotional Rodeo’ – how does this represent the themes of your upcoming album, and can we expect more?
I think it represents a lot of the fun I wanted to capture on this record. I worked a lot with friends I’ve made over the years with the writing and production of it. One theme of the album is simple – just big girly fun. So for the emotional rodeo video, two of my friends are in it and we were just having the craic!
Your music blends elements of country rock with Irish charm. Which artists or genres have had the most significant impact on your musical style, and how do these influences manifest in your latest work?
I grew up listening to so many genres. Rock, metal, bluegrass, pop, dance, Irish trad etc. But country music was the one genre that everyone in my family listened to. Meaning that for every holiday, long car ride or Sunday morning radio in the kitchen, there was always country music playing. There was a lot of Garth Brooks, Hal Ketchum, Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton etc The storytelling in my writing definitely came from this exposure to the genre so young and just the nature of Irish people loving a good yarn! As an adult I’ve been inspired by The steel drivers, Lainey Wilson, Chris Stapleton, the brothers Osborne – the list goes on! All of those artists plus the many more spanning almost every genre has led to my little mixing pot of sound!
Your music often reflects personal growth and empowerment. How does ‘Country Singer’ represent your journey of self-discovery and embracing your true self, especially in the face of societal pressures?
After tens of thousands of pounds spent on therapy/psychiatry/self improvement, I think I’ve finally got it. One pillar was a fear of growing up and accepting the fact I’m a grown woman. So many people only remember me as a 16 year old girl who was shy and didn’t like herself. Anytime I deviated from that narrative people would get angry and upset. There’s not a day that goes by where someone doesn’t say they preferred the old me. Constantly leaving me in the shadow of my younger self. Anytime I’d show myself as being confident and self assured people would quickly let me know of their disapproval. I definitely felt the societal pressure to stay “young”. But now that my 30th birthday is just around the corner, I’ve been able to conceptualise it all easier. I don’t want to be shy and self loathing forever. I can’t be a kid forever. Thank god! But what I can be is myself. Thankfully I am confident and self assured now. I’m finally able to be authentic and true without caring about the naysayers.
From your debut album, ‘Running With Scissors’, to ‘Confessional’, and now, ‘Emotional Rodeo’, your music has evolved significantly. How do you approach each album as a reflection of your growth?
Every album feels like a season in my life. Almost like a summary of the years up until the next release. I would say that the writing process becomes a reflection of growth naturally. With this record I feel it captures how I see myself now. There’s the fun/humorous side, the deeply emotional and guilty of loving too hard side and the Irish nature of loving a good story. With being in a good place with myself now, I can finally show a more well rounded version of me as a person.
Can you give us a teaser of what’s round the corner?
There’s still a bit more chaos to be had! It’s still summer so I want to stay on the upbeat and fun side! But for the folks who enjoy my more emotive writing – there’s plenty of that still to come!
