After soaring to No. 4 on the iTunes Country Charts earlier this year, the incomparable Northern Irish songstress Janet Devlin is poised to release her courageous country-rock album, ‘Emotional Rodeo’, on via OkGood Records. Recorded at Blackbird Studio in Nashville, Devlin captures the heartfelt essence of country-rock with an authentic edge, blending sharp, witty lyrics with themes of fearless self-empowerment.
Co-written alongside Ben Earle of The Shires and Kaity Rae (GIRLI, Beth McCarthy), 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 the fiery energy of the Red Hot Chilli Peppers and 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.
Hailing from this explosive response, Devlin returned with the album’s show-stopping sophomore single ‘Country Singer’. The song chronicles Devlin’s evolution from seeking male approval to embracing her full, unapologetic self, inspired by a whirlwind romance with a washed-up country star. Forging a bold statement, Devlin lays bare the absurdities of dating egotistical partners and the pitfalls of suppressing her true identity. With its blend of classic country influences, Devlin captures the authentic, rootsy sound crafted in Nashville in collaboration with Grammy-award-winning producer Vance Powell.
Reflecting on the release, Devlin shares, “Stepping into and owning my womanhood meant stepping into self-belief. Not just a surface-level “I love myself” Instagram post. It meant dissecting every aspect of my life and identifying where my actions weren’t marrying with my words. In my work, I was a confident, self-assured, and empowered woman. But why was I still insecurely hanging on to male validation in my personal life? Needless to say, not anymore! I no longer slice myself into more digestible, palatable pieces for their consumption.”
Devlin’s upcoming third single, ‘Daddy’, set to release on August 16th, humorously portrays a ‘sugar daddy’ relationship with cleverly reversed gender roles. Continuing to draw from the nostalgic soundscapes of Nashville, this soon-to-be hit underscores Devlin’s commitment to challenging societal expectations and empowering listeners. The remainder of ‘Emotional Rodeo’ features a blend of up-tempo tracks, heartfelt piano ballads, and earthy acoustic hits. From the dark ‘Plastic Pistol’ to the raw, stripped-back ‘Burden’, the album showcases the singer-songwriter’s melodic sensibilities, modern interpretation of classic sounds, and newfound rock’n’roll attitude.
Throughout, ‘Emotional Rodeo’ is a testament to Devlin’s devotion to country music and its prominent role in her musical upbringing. Reminiscing on her personal connection to the genre, Devlin shared: “Country music has always been a huge part of my life. It was a genre that everyone in my house agreed to listen to. I have distinct memories of driving to show-jumping competitions with my father, playing a mix tape my brother made of some of our shared favourites. Always wearing my cowboy boots to the yard until it was time to saddle up. Since I started music, I always said that after 24 I’d jump into the country music scene. It’s an odd thing to have planned out but I always knew I wanted to. For me I love the story telling. I love that there’s almost always a clever quip in there. Mostly, I love that it doesn’t always take itself too seriously. You can stick on a country radio station and cry, laugh and sing a long.”
The album marks an artistic milestone, personally and musically embracing Devlin’s full identity. Influenced by the unapologetic attitude of Megan Thee Stallion, Doja Cat and Cardi B, ‘Emotional Rodeo’ embodies the ownership of womanhood, engineered in a clever, quick-witted manner. From sharing her candid sense of humour to exploring her unfiltered personality and flaws, Devlin has nothing to prove. Each track delves into a wide range of emotions, navigating the complexities of mental health and dismissing the idea of perfection. Poised to be Devlin’s most relatable body of work, this musical voyage of self-discovery is set to make listeners laugh, cry and feel empowered to be their true selves in equal measure.
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