Irish singer-songwriter Janet Devlin makes a defiant return with the powerful “Working For The Man.” This long-awaited fan favourite pulses with a restless desire for independence. Born from reflections on the relentless “rat race” and the pressure to preserve one’s identity within an unforgiving system, the song was written over a decade ago and now finally steps into the light – its message as timely as ever. More than thirteen years later, “Working For The Man” receives its long-awaited official release. It closes a chapter that began with a young songwriter, a rain-soaked afternoon, and a song that refused to fade. Co-produced by Janet alongside Jurgen Korduletsch and Rick Chambers, mixed by six-time Grammy Award-winning engineer Vance Powell, and mastered by Christian Wright at Abbey Road Studios, the track fuses Janet’s signature country-tinged vocals with a jaunty, gloriously chaotic arrangement of jangling guitars, crashing drums, and spirited piano. The result showcases her growing confidence within the genre while preserving the raw authenticity that defines her sound. Her voice, edged with Americana twang and grit, guides the song from brooding tension into a soaring crescendo. It captures the restless momentum of reclaiming control and searching for self-identity amid the noise of expectation and the urgency of time slipping away. The evolution of ‘Working For The Man’ The song first took shape in London when Janet was just 17. During a writing session on a grey, rainy day in a flat on Portobello Road, the young artist wrote with acclaimed singer-songwriter Jack Savoretti. She began piecing together what would become a lasting staple of her live shows. Across two days, the pair wrote two songs: “Delicate,” which appeared on her debut album, and “Working For The Man”. Though the latter never made it on to her debut record, it quickly became both a personal favourite and a staple for audiences. For more than thirteen years, it has remained part of her setlist, with fans repeatedly calling for its official release. Savoretti expressed his continued admiration for Janet, saying, “I have always loved Janet’s voice and admired her approach to music. She has always done things her own way.” Devlin on her own work Janet explained, “Honestly, I think that’s why I fought so hard and chose the path that I did. Being an independent artist. Even though many years on, it’s still tough, and I’m by no means rich, I’m living and dying by my own sword. I by no means am trying to say that working a nine-to-five is a bad thing. It’s not. I think I was just influenced by my parents’ experiences, too. They both had full-time jobs whilst juggling having four kids under five years old. I saw how hard they worked for what we had in life and just how exhausted they were from it. In a lot of ways, I felt angry with them. Angry at the system we’re living in. That they could work tirelessly to put money in the pockets of someone else. Obviously, that system hasn’t changed since I wrote it. It still angers me. That’s why the song still feels so true and relevant to me, all these years on.” Expanding on how it has evolved, and what it was like revisiting it in Nashville, she notes, “On my last trip to Nashville, I recorded 22 songs in three days and this song HAD to be one of them. I knew that the musicians would absolutely smash it… and that they did. It was so magical to hear the song I’ve loved for so long finally come to fruition. To go from a little garage band demo on my laptop with Jack, to a full live band in none other than Blackbird studios. It really felt like a beautiful, full-circle moment. If only 17-year-old me had a crystal ball, she could’ve seen where the song would end up. Not only that, but to have an absolute hero of mine, Vance Powell, mix it out in Nashville, too.” The next phase of Devlin’s career This release kicks off the year for Janet who is set to take her unique country-rock on the road. Following a whirlwind 2025 where she performed at the likes of C2C Festival, The Long Road and The British Country Music Festival. She re-emerged at London’s Camden Club on 2nd April with a headline performance for the Chatter Hoochee Podcast. She’s also set to appear at In It Together Festival on 22nd May, Belladrum Festival on 30th July alongside artists such as Mika and Callum Beattie. She will also be making a stop at Essex’s Country Calling on 16th August. “Working For The Man” arrives hot off the heels of 2025’s ‘Not My First Emotional Rodeo’ – a captivating deluxe edition of her critically acclaimed album ‘Emotional Rodeo’. Building on the original’s success, she topped the iTunes Country Chart and garnered widespread radio support. The expanded collection further secured Janet’s reputation as one of the most distinctive voices in the UK country and Americana scene. The album includes the flyaway hit single “Houston”, which was added to the BBC Radio 2 playlist. It also features an acoustic reimagining of Kenny Rogers’ “The Gambler”, recorded at George Ezra’s studio, Hotel Quebec.
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