X Factor’s cherished contestant Janet Devlin is about to embark on her latest UK tour, with her first date being in Carlisle on November 23rd at the Old Fire Station.

Since her time on the show, Janet has built up a massive online following of devoted fans through her past releases, including her recent track, ‘Outernet Song’ – addressing the extremely topical issue of taking a ‘digital detox’ from technology.

She has also just released her Christmas inspired EP, ‘Little Lights’, all in anticipation of her long awaited sophomore album, ‘My Opium’ scheduled to be released next year.

After the resounding success that was her first festive foray (December Daze), 21-year old singer/songwriter Janet Devlin has once again bestowed another Christmas cracker upon us. ‘Little Lights,’ available now,skilfully captures a range of feelings associated with Christmas, each song a perfect orb of light and emotion. It features a mixture of originals (‘Wake Up It’s Christmas’, ‘Merry Christmas Mum & Dad’, ‘Something Beginning With Christmas’), alongside timeless classics (‘Merry Xmas Everybody’, ‘White Christmas’) and is bookended by an extra track from last year’s EP, which was previously only released digitally (‘Christmas Kiss’).

“Little Lights is a slightly darker, more mellow venture into this special time of year,” says Janet. “I wanted to acknowledge that it’s not always eggnog and wrapping paper, and that there are other, more contemplative emotions kindled at Christmastime.”

The EP kicks off with the sublime ‘Wake Up It’s Christmas’  – a melancholy snapshot about heartbreak at Christmas, underpinned by a spine-tinglingly dreamy accompaniment, with deep pads and synths adding to the emotive feel.  ‘Merry Christmas Mum & Dad’ pays a touching tribute to Janet’s parents, acknowledging the effort they made each time the 25th December rolled around.  ‘Something Beginning With Christmas’is upbeat with a driving rhythm and backing vocals from Janet’s friends, all about the anticipation and excitement at Christmas.

And no festive EP would be complete without some quintessential Christmas classics. Janet delivers a tender new take on ‘Merry Xmas Everybody’, complete with gentle Eleanor Rigby-inspired strings, and then there’s the festive staple – ‘White Christmas’. With Janet’s poignant vocal beautifully supported by a delicate string arrangement from composer and arranger Sally Herbert.  “I’ve always longed to make a record with a string quartet, and was extremely fortunate to be able to work with Sally. She brought fantastic players into the A&B Studios London to add the extra dimension I was looking for. It’s made the tracks incredibly moving and given ‘Little Lights’ a special Christmas sparkle.”

Finally don’t miss the bonus track ‘Christmas Kiss’, a track actually released digitally last year. It’s a rollicking, feel-good romp, reminiscent of The Pogues with a simple message: having been single for several festive seasons, Janet’s imploring for one more ‘Christmas kiss’. “I wanted to create a sound reminiscent of walking into a raucous Irish bar, with accordions, ukulele, guitars and bass. I’m not taking myself too seriously in the song, and felt this style of music would fit the mood!”

‘Little Lights’ was recorded and produced by the award-winning producer Graeme Pleeth, and mastered by Christian Wright at the prestigious Abbey Road Studios. Timed to support Janet’s ‘My Opium’ tour (23rdNovember – 16th December), this perfectly wrapped gift will become your must-listen playlist to get you into the Christmas spirit.