After soaring to No. 4 on the iTunes Country Charts earlier this year, the incomparable Northern Irish songstress Janet Devlin is set to release her ethereal new single, “Red Flag,” on October 4th, offering the latest preview of her highly anticipated country-rock album, “Emotional Rodeo,” which drops on November 15th via OkGood Records.
Co-written alongside award-winning producer Jamie Sellers (Ed Sheeran, Elton John, Little Simz) and Kaity Rae (GIRLI, Beth McCarthy), this enchanting Americana number showcases Devlin’s fearless refusal to shy away from ‘red flags’ in a partner, asserting that they are essential for building a realistic, ideal relationship. Blending soul-stirring vocals with nostalgic sliding guitars and poignant lyrics, “Red Flag” transforms a commonly negative term into something positive, crafting a lovelorn track that many listeners can resonate with.
Speaking on the inspiration behind “Red Flag,” Devlin shared, “They say manifesting is a powerful tool. If you speak of the things you want, as if you already have them, they’ll come. So I guess this song is me manifesting my dream man. A strait-laced, future family man who wants a wife not a girlfriend. His only flaw? That he’s into someone as crazy as me. Back in the day, anytime I started dating someone actually ‘good’ for me – it was almost a turn off. Not on purpose obviously, I wasn’t exactly sane in those days. I just couldn’t quite understand how someone chemically balanced would be into an emotional tornado like myself. Luckily, I’m not in that headspace anymore! So I’m now looking for someone whose favourite colour is red…”
“Red Flag” serves as an integral moment in the forthcoming “Emotional Rodeo,” which was recorded at Martina McBride’s Blackville Studios, Nashville with esteemed producer Roo Walker, tracked by Lowell Reynolds (Shania Twain, BoyGenius, Taylor Swift) and mixed mostly at Spotnick Studios by Grammy-Award winning producer/mixer Vance Powell, (Chris Stapleton, Jack White). The track originated from an unfinished demo with Kaity Rae on vocals, recorded while on tour in Australia, and was later finalized by Jamie Sellers several weeks afterward. Expressing her determination to feature ‘Red Flag’ on the album, Devlin shared, “I just knew it needed to be done because I loved it too much for it to stay in the ‘unfinished’ pile. I also was NOT heading to Nashville without this song in my back pocket because I knew the band out there would nail it. I was not wrong as nail it they did!”
Co-written together with Ben Earle of The Shires and Kaity Rae, the album’s title track generated high anticipation for what is to come. Powerfully merging Devlin’s Irish charm with pure rock elements, “Emotional Rodeo” draws influence from Americana legend Chris Stapleton. It captures the essence of loving fearlessly, despite the challenges that come with Borderline Personality Disorder and bipolar disorder. The track made a significant mark on the charts, reaching No. 15 on the UK iTunes Charts, No. 4 on the iTunes Country Charts, and No. 31 on the Big Top 40. This success sparked national radio play on Capital and Heart, grabbing the attention of notable publications such as The Sun, The Irish Post, The Irish News, and METAL Magazine.
Born and raised in Gortin, County Tyrone, Devlin’s musical journey took off after she secured fifth place on The X Factor in 2011. Earning widespread acclaim, her debut album, “Running With Scissors,” reached #1 on the Indie Breakers Chart and entered the Top 50 of the Official UK Charts. Enchanting fans worldwide, her cover of The Cure’s “Friday I’m In Love” has garnered nearly 20 million plays on Spotify alone. Devlin’s second album, “Confessional” culminated in a headline UK tour in 2022 and the album hit the Billboard Top 100 in America. In addition to her live shows, Janet regularly performs a selection of covers and original songs online via Lounges.tv, connecting further with her global audience.
Janet Devlin has found a foothold in the music industry, standing out amongst the crowd with her soul-stirring vocal prowess and introspective lyricism. Originally formed by a fusion of tender folk, indie, and quirky pop, she has crafted a discography that profoundly resonates with listeners. With the melodic “Red Flag” and the upcoming “Emotional Rodeo”, Janet Devlin solidifies her place as a powerful voice in country music, blending heartfelt storytelling with raw authenticity to create a deeply relatable and enduring collection of songs.
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