| Lavigne vows it's 'about the music' from now on
By MICHAEL D. CLARK
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle
There's something different about the lilt in Avril Lavigne's voice these days. As the 20-year-old singer-songwriter talked about de-stressing through yoga, writing new songs and listening to pop radio predecessor Fiona Apple, the "don't-mess-with-me" tone that defined past hits like Complicated and Don't Tell Me was replaced with sing-songy timbre.
Reuters
The fist-pumping, bad-attitude days are over for Avril Lavigne. Her new focus is on her work as a performer, musician and composer.
Had the real Lavigne become some sort of Stepford sk8er girl?
No, she just had a little secret. She's getting hitched.
After dating for a year, Lavigne and Sum 41 frontman Deryck Whibley were engaged. No date has been announced for the nuptials between the two Ontario, Canada, natives, but it will have to wait until after her current tour with Gavin DeGraw and Butch Walker that stops at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion tonight.
It sounds like Lavigne, who spent much of the past three years singing songs about bad breakups and keeping her guard up, is counting the days.
"I don't feel burnout, but I do want to go home," Lavigne says.
Lavigne is also looking forward to how her music will grow as she gets older, similar to that of Alanis Morissette and Jewel before her. For Lavigne, that means an emphasis on her work as a performer, musician and composer.
"There been so much importance placed on what I wore," says Lavigne, who created a mini fashion trend wearing men's ties and army boots. She's since retired that look.
"I want it to be about the music," she says. "I haven't done the writing process for more than a year (while touring), but I have so many ideas. I can't wait to just let it all come together organically."
Lavigne's concerts have also evolved since her first album, Let Go, sold over 6 million copies and top-charting singles like Complicated and Sk8er Boi made her an overnight sensation. Back then Lavigne dressed like Punky Brewster's evil sister, accessorizing her heavy black eyeliner with adolescent sneers and lots of fist-pumping.
Under My Skin hasn't had the breakneck momentum of Let Go, but producers Walker (who is also the lead singer of the Marvelous 3), Our Lady Peace frontman Raine Maida and Don Gilmore (Linkin Park, Good Charlotte) helped Lavigne expand her repertoire both in the studio and on stage beyond her electric guitar.
"Halfway through the set I play piano. There's also a point where I grab the acoustic guitar, and later on I hop on the drums," she says of her stage show.
What you shouldn't expect from Lavigne again anytime soon are the obscene gestures and public bad-mouthing of pop peer Britney Spears.
That was the younger Avril. Now she has a new life and career to foster.
"I had my little fun," Lavigne says, laughing. "Life is short, and career comes first now."
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