|
Fan Forum Hero
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 60,613
|
Quote:
Avril Lavigne talks about love, life and her new album
In the four years since her last big record release, Avril Lavigne has gone from tomboy brat to launching her own fashion label.
She's also divorced hubby Deryck Whibley, sold more than 32 million albums - and she's still just 26 years-old.
But the Canadian, from Ontario, who found worldwide fame aged just 17, says her life, unlike her debut single, is far from complicated.
She even praises her former hubby for his production skills on Darlin' - one of the tracks on her new album.
Avril said: "We worked on the new record and are still friends. He did an amazing job and it was cool because we worked in our home studio."
She says their break-up in 2009, after three years, wasn't the reason for the big gap between her third album, 2007's The Best Damn Thing - with massive UK No1 single Girlfriend - and her fourth, Goodbye Lullaby, with new single What the Hell. Avril said: "For the first two years, I was on the road doing a world tour. And for the past two, I've been at home working on this album."
Using Madonna's career as a blueprint, Avril has branched out into other areas - clothing and perfume. And her fashion line, Abbey Dawn, has become a huge success.
Last year, as well as recording the song Alice for the Johnny Depp film Alice in Wonderland, she teamed up with Disney for a range for Abbey Dawn, inspired by the hit movie. She also launched two perfumes, with a third set scheduled for release in 2011.
Avril's style has clearly changed from skater to stylish - but she reckons that's just about growing up.
She said: "When I was younger, I dressed skater and had that whole thing going on."
"But as I grew up, I eventually started wearing heels and dresses. Over time, fashion choices change. Now that I'm older and have a clothing line, I'm more into fashion."
"I like to dress with rock 'n' roll elements and be casual. I like jeans with rips and skulls, but now I wear more flattering pieces."
"I would never have worn heels or tight trousers before, or dresses."
"Today, though, I enjoy it. I've grown up."
Despite being the creator of a fashion label, Avril hates the pressure put on women, young and old, to look good.
She said: "Everybody is too focused on outside beauty - people should remember inner beauty is more important. In magazines, everyone is super-skinny and perfect, but it's not like that in real life. It's about personality and who you are.
"People who are cool, stand out. But it's not necessarily the drop-dead gorgeous one or the most skinny person in the room that you notice."
"I have a small frame and I'm athletic, but I don't really think about it. I like to eat healthily but I believe in moderation. If you want to be bad for a night, go ahead. It's fun and you should never deprive yourself."
Avril relaxes through yoga, rollerblading, skateboarding and running.
Her label Abbey Dawn is an extension of her skater roots with hoodies, T-shirts and skull-and-crossbones accessories like necklaces, bracelets and earrings.
She has also made her mark in the financially rewarding fragrance market, joining celebrities such as Paris Hilton, Britney Spears and Cher. She launched perfumes Black Star in 2009 and Forbidden Rose last year.
Avril explained: "Black Star is about following your dreams and reaching for the stars, while Forbidden Rose is about being bold and not holding back."
It's certainly a turnaround from the Avril we remember back in 2002. As a teenager, she was known as the anti-Britney because of her style - vests with ties round her neck and a baseball hat turned round.
At the start, Avril almost hid her face with her hair, appearing afraid to show off her pretty features.
But she doesn't cringe at her old photos. She said: "I smile. I think it's cool how I dressed, with my baggy pants and my ties. I was so innocent and had no idea what was going on, except that everything was really exciting."
One thing she still has from her teenage days is her long hair. But that may go.
Avril said: "People say to me 'your trademark is your long hair', but I don't think like that. I like having long hair because I feel girly and it's fun, but I might go crazy and cut it off ." A genuine child star, long before fellow Canadian Justin Bieber, she insists she didn't miss out on anything growing up.
Avril groaned: "Everyone asks me that. I had the most normal childhood in a small town and went to high school.
"I had the normal experience. Then when I was 16, I was gone." Gone meant becoming a worldwide star and a multi-millionaire.
Avril's first three albums went to No1 in the UK. Her debut, Let Go, with singles Complicated and Sk8er Boi, sold 16 million copies worldwide.
Her 2004 second album Under My Skin sold 10 million copies, while in 2007, album Best Damn Thing, sold six million copies.
Now her latest album, Goodbye Lullaby, out on March 7, is seen by many as one of 2011's big releases.
Avril seems to have managed to circumnavigate worldwide fame and even a marriage break-up better than her peers like Britney Spears or Christina Aguilera.
She said: "I think I've always just been comfortable with who I am and I never feel I have to fit in with a certain crowd."
"In school, I hung out with all kinds of different people, from different groups. During my last year in high school I was with a skater group."
"I would know people from the goth group and the prep group, but my main group was skating, which meant hanging out with the boys."
Avril's new single, What the Hell, is out now.
|
source
|
I can't wait for more! 
