Janet Devlin (End Of Year 2025)

Janet Devlin is closing out the year with honesty in her heart, gratitude in her voice, and a renewed sense of peace around the festive season. After a defining year that saw her 'Emotional Rodeo' era reach powerful new heights with the release of deluxe album 'Not My First Emotional Rodeo', the Irish singer-songwriter now turns her focus to Christmas, a season that once carried heaviness, but now represents home, healing, and reconnection.

From triumphant festival performances and chart success, to revisiting the song that first changed her life and sharing her deeply personal journey with mental health and survival, Janet’s story this year has been one of resilience, reflection and quiet strength. Her new Christmas performance special brings that warmth full circle, blending nostalgic classics with heartfelt originals, a love letter to family, memory, and making space for emotion at the most vulnerable time of year.

As she looks ahead to 2026 with fresh music, restored hope, and the same fearless vulnerability that has always defined her artistry, we caught up with Janet to talk about coming home for Christmas, the songs that shaped her journey, the importance of rewriting festive expectations, and why reaching out can be the most powerful gift of all.

Hi Janet, how are you feeling as we head into the end of 2025? 

Definitely very tired as It’s been a very full on 2/3 years haha BUT even more excited for next year!

The festive season can stir up so many emotions - joy, nostalgia, and more. What aspects of this time of year do you personally cherish the most?

I cherish my time back home in Ireland. It’s the only holiday I take in the year so it’s my time to just be a daughter, auntie and friend. So it’s the quality time that makes it for me! 

When you compare how you approach Christmas today to how you felt five years ago, what emotional changes come to mind? 

Christmas five years ago was the first and only Christmas where I was in London and not back home. It was an emotional low for me. So luckily I get to look forward to the holiday season again.

You’re releasing your new Christmas performance special, featuring a mix of heartfelt originals and timeless classics. What do you find most comforting or meaningful about Christmas music?

The sincerity of the people singing them. I love nothing more than hearing local choirs, buskers or live bands at the holidays. Most special when it’s my own family. Waking up to my dad singing along to Christmas radio in the kitchen or doing festive karaoke with my nieces.

What role does festive music play in your life, and how does it lift your own spirits?

For me it’s just a beautiful reminder of what’s to come. Naturally I miss my home. Even after 10+ years of living in London. So when I’m doing my groceries, listening to radio, or out and about. That longing is replaced with excitement.

Revisiting “Your Song” - the piece that first introduced you to so many people - is a powerful moment in the special. What did it mean to reinterpret it at this stage in your journey?

I wanted to put it in the special because of what the track means to me. It was the start of my journey. I uploaded my little cover of it to my YouTube channel back in 2010. It was my first video to do well. Little did I know it would be the beginnings of the rest of my life. Luckily a track so special to me also holds a special place for others. So to do it now, 14 years later, reminds me how blessed I am to get to do what I do.

Many people find the holiday season particularly difficult. As someone who has been open about your mental health journey, what words of support or guidance would you offer to those whose struggles deepen around this time of year?

At this time of year, we’re bombarded with the “perfect” Hallmark style Christmas’s. Be it movies, adverts and online. It’s all too easy and often not a conscious choice, to compare our lives circumstances to what we’re consuming. Left feeling bad that we don’t have what they have. But I think it’s important to make Christmas into something we want it to be. It’s the season of giving. It doesn’t necessarily mean gifts and luxuries. It can be time. Giving your time to a local charity, food shelter or person in your life who doesn’t have anyone around them this time of year. Give yourself some time and grace, if you can.

You’ve spoken openly about how The Samaritans played a life-saving role for you. Are you able to share what kind of moment you were in when their support helped, and why you encourage anyone who is struggling to reach out to them - especially during the holidays?

Anytime I take train, especially in December, I’ll see that little green logo on a poster. It’s a reminder of a time when I didn’t even trust myself to wait by the little yellow line. For fear of what I might do. Even though that was 10 years ago, that little green signage serves as an important reminder. Help is out there. Someone will listen. You just have to reach out. If you were to take my phone now and look at my contacts - “Sam” will be there. An old friend I called many many times in my past but slowly fell out of contact with. Happily so. I’ll never not be grateful for those lovely strangers who took the time out of their lives to save mine. I hope anyone who’s felt how I did will take that little but big step to talk to someone.

You’ve always been candid about vulnerability in your songwriting. How does music serve as an emotional outlet for you? 

Like most people, my purse strings are pretty tight but writing is free. Music is just my diary. I get to document what’s going on and how I’m feeling. It’s my favourite way of memorising my time here on earth. Luckily I’m an oversharer who doesn’t mind people essentially reading their innermost thoughts haha.

After such a fulfilling year, what are your hopes as you look towards 2026? 

I simply hope for another year doing my dream. To continue making music, playing shows and being creative. I’m excited to put out the music I’ve been working on this year and hopefully I’ll get to play it live for the lovely people who want to hear it!

Watch Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apB8NdBTvTI