Pop-punk’s princess is back.
But this time the singer-songwriter, 37, is doing it her way.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: You’re back to your pop-punk roots 20 years after your debut!
Avril Lavigne.DTA Records
AVRIL LAVIGNE:I know, it’s so crazy.
[Laughs] How did that happen?
I’m really stoked about the new music and just in such a good place.
The artwork for Avril Lavigne’s single ‘Bite Me’.DTA Records
We’re all having so much fun.
I really went back to what sounds I originally was influenced by at the beginning of my career.
It just felt like it was time to make this throw in of an album.
When did you first start working on this album?
What was your inspiration for the new music?
My last album [2019’sHead Above Water] was deep and heavy.
My message is know who you are and trust who you are.
A lot of these songs are about having the strength to walk away if someone doesn’t see that.
I wanted to ensure I wrote music that people could relate to.
It’s about valuing yourself and knowing you’re enough.
It’s really a love letter to women.
And this is the most alternative record I’ve made from front to back.
Most of my albums have like pop songs, ballads, and it’s quite diverse.
I felt like I got to just work with people I know or people that are my vibe.
Sometimes you get put with these professional songwriters and they’re just not even cool.
We all complemented each other.
You were one of the catalysts for the early-2000s pop-punk explosion.
Why do you thinkwe’re seeing the genre’s resurgence now?
It’s really cool to see it become more popular right now.
Pop-punk feels more popular than it’s ever been, in a way.
it’s kind of like a soundtrack to our youth.
You released “Bite Me"from this album back in November.
What made that song the perfect first single?
That just had a little bite to it.
[Laughs] It sets the tone of the record.
You have a song coming out withMachine Gun Kellyon this album.
What was it like working with him?
That was a really fun day in the studio around the Christmas holidays [last year].
It just kind of turned into a song that we were singing together.
You also worked with blackbear for a song on the album.
How did that one come together?
That one was different.
We went for a different approach musically and stylistically.
I’m a huge blackbear fan, and so we had reached out to him.
I actually have not met him yet.
I sent him the song and he recorded his part and really took it to the next level.
His lyrics are so genius.
I just thought he was genius, lyrically.
What can you reveal about the other songs we’ll hear on the albumor what it will be called?
Honestly, I’m going back and forth on the title for the record at the moment.
Having all these features on the record has been really fun.
Your health had a massive impact on your last album, so how are you doing now?
How did that affect how you worked on this album?
I’m feeling really good.
I just fall in love with music over and over.
I’m really happy and feeling great and really looking forward to starting this new era.
At 37, you somehow still look and sound the same as you did 20 years ago.
I’ve got to ask, what’s your secret?
[Laughs] Thank you!
It’s really funny that people say that.
I don’t know if there’s a secret.
I mean, I’ve always been an organic eater.
But on the other hand, I’m a beer drinker.
[Laughs] So I just keep a really good balance in my life.
But that’s also because I’m a Libra.
