Songstress Janet Devlin, who rose to fame after appearing on 'The X Factor' back in 2011, has just unveiled a new festive EP called 'December Daze' (November 27) and we caught up with her to talk about Christmas, her 'X Factor' past, and her current inspirations.

'December Daze' is our new festive favourite. What inspired you to make a Christmas-themed EP? 

I wasn't the biggest Christmas person ever... I've always been a Grinch even since I was a kid... it took me my first trip to New York! It was like -19 degrees and snowing and it was perfect! I was thinking about all those films like 'Home Alone' and 'Elf' that had been filmed in Central Park, and was like, 'this year I'm going to get really into Christmas', and it escalated from there!

'December Daze' is an original song. How long did it take to write and what was the setting for the inspiration?

My whole team, we were all walking around Central Park and when we got back to the hotel I was like, 'right, we've got to write a Christmas song'. So we went upstairs and started writing it! I was doing interviews all day so we got half an hour to get started and we'd written the verse and had started the chorus, but then I had to go. I ended up having to finish it off in London and that was really tough because it brought me back to not feeling very Christmassy! It was just... grey skies and, ugh, really hard. But we finished it in the end!

So you're also working on your second album at the moment? 

Yeah... that was my plan initially... I'm always writing songs, but the EP has kind of taken up all of my time so I've pushed it back. I wish I had more songs done, I'm not going to lie, but the songs I have got are really good and I'm happy with them. I have a concept for this album and all of that's sorted. I have a good picture of where I want to go and what I artist I want to be for this album!

What's your next album going to be about and what has influenced this new collection of songs?

It's... it's called 'Holy Water' and it's this idea of soul-cleansing and if you're going to get reconciled for your sins, you have to tell another person. I'm putting all the bad things I've done in an album and I'm now totally forgiven (laughs). It's kind of dark and holy-esque. 'Holy Water' is a working title! I don't have a release date set yet... I want to have it out before summer, but at the moment it's nice because I don't feel pressured to have things done by a certain time. It's just so nice and creative, and all of that!

Is there anywhere in particular you go to write or can you work wherever you are?

Anywhere, really. I think whenever you're in promo mode it's harder to write because you've got to talk a lot about something that's already been made... writing and promo are two different worlds so it's been hard to combine them.

Social media is obviously one of the best ways for artists to connect with fans in this day and age, how do you feel about it?

I like it... I see them as friends, not fans. My WiFi has been out in my house now for weeks and it's such a first-world problem, I know, but I couldn't message any of them! I like to stay in touch with them and they all tell me about their lives. It's nice when I'm at a gig and I recognise someone and can say, 'oh, how's your cat?' you know?

Do you stay in touch with the other artists who were on your series of 'The X Factor'?

I do keep up to date with everyone! It's really cool. I try as much as I can, but everyone's so busy. I got along with everybody during that show so yeah, I'm friends with them all.

We saw the other day that you sent Jedward (John and Edward Grimes) a Happy Birthday message. Are you still in contact with them?

Yes. It's hard not to love them because they're just such nice guys and they're full of energy. So like, people really want to hate them, but as soon as you meet them you can't hate them anymore because they're so fun, so hard-working and they're just such nice guys. 

The second part of this interview will be uploaded tomorrow (Friday, November 27).

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Watch her music video for 'December Daze' here: