Flame haired Northern Irish singer-songwriter Janet Devlin is back, stronger than ever before with her debut album Running With Scissors, which was released on 9th June 2014. This 10-track, full of folk-driven pop songs and heart touching ballads, showcases Janet’s unique and enchanting vocals, which first caught the public’s attention on Series 8 of The X factor in 2011. On the back of the album’s release, Ms. Devlin has announced a series of gigs which starts on December 1st in Bristol, takes in Birmingham’s Hare & Hounds on the 2nd and finishes at The Surya in London on December 16th with a special night at Liverpool’s EVAC on December 4th.
Mainly self-penned by Janet and recorded in a staggering six weeks, the album Running With Scissors also features co-writes with Newton Faulkner (Creatures of The Night and Hide And Seek) and Jack Savoretti (Delicate), alongside a surprising cover of The Cure’s Friday I’m In Love.
Influences ranging from Imogen Heap, Turin Brakes, Adele, Mumford & Sons, Avril Lavigne, Regina Spektor and Florence & The Machine can be heard within this well-produced album full of rolling percussion, lush harmonies, string sections and acoustic guitars. There’s even a hint of Jack Johnson thrown in there on the track Lifeboat, which features jaunty offbeat guitars. It’s an album about growing up, becoming independent and dealing with a whole range of new emotions. For example, Things We Lost In The Fire is hewn from the embers of the breakdown of her relationship with her first true love. “He really brought me down so I had zero confidence. My friends say I haven’t changed but I was angered so much when I heard what he was saying about me”.
Growing up on a diet of Kerrang! T.V. in County Tyrone, Janet’s love for music was initially fuelled by bands such as Foo Fighters and Red Hot Chili Peppers, who inspired her to pick up an instrument and write her own songs. At 19 years old, Janet’s other interests include cartoons (she is obsessed with Adventure Time), gaming, poetry and horse riding. Her quirky and exposed yet shy nature has won her a huge online following of over 350,000 fans that call themselves The Devlinators.
Tickets for Janet Devlin’s night at Liverpool’s East Village Arts Centre are on sale now and available from the usual outlets.