Under Avril Lavigne's skin

"I am who I am," Avril Lavigne said.

Whether you like her or not, nothing can stop Canadian punk-rock sensation Avril Lavigne from being herself.

Lavigne, whose debut album "Let Go" spawned hits like "Complicated," "Sk8ter Boi" and "I'm With You," recently visited Manila as part of her Bonez Tour, which took her to countries such as Japan, Australia and Singapore. She was also here to promote her sophomore album, "Under My Skin," which features popular tracks like "Don't Tell Me," "My Happy Ending," "Nobody's Home" and "He Wasn't." Lavigne took time to meet the press at the Oriental Suite of the Mandarin Oriental Manila hours before her concert.

I was warned just before the interview that Avril Lavigne would not be just an ordinary subject. Though the interview was shorter than the time originally allotted, 2bU! was able to know more about the punk-rock sensation despite the restrictions and her mood that day.

Why Bonez Tour?

"It's called that because I thought it is funny at that time and I'm regretting it right now," Lavigne said. "Bones... under my skin? Get it? Also, I used a lot of cross bones in my (album) artwork."

Unlike in her previous album where she worked with The Matrix, Lavigne decided to concentrate on writing her own songs and collaborate with new producers like Butch Walker (of the Marvelous 3), Don Gilmore (Linkin Park, Pearl Jam) and Raine Maida (Our Lady Peace). But she considers working with fellow Canadian singer Chantal Kreviazuk special.

"Chantal plays a lot of piano and because of that, we ended up using the piano as a writing tool," Lavigne said. "I ended up putting piano in my new songs."

Their writing sessions led not just to producing six songs ("Together," "How Does It Feel," "Forgotten," "Who Knows," "He Wasn't," "Slipped Away"), but also friendships. Lavigne considers "My Happy Ending" as her best song in the album and "He Wasn't" and "Slipped Away" (which she dedicated to her late grandfather) as the most personal cuts.

Breakaway

She usually writes songs when she is on tour, using a guitar or piano. Lavigne co-wrote the recent worldwide hit, "Breakaway," sung by Kelly Clarkson and which was included in the soundtrack of "Princess Diaries 2."

"I wasn't feeling the song and I just didn't want to sing it," Lavigne said when asked why she didn't include it in the album.

She has also yet to see "Princess Diaries 2." Lavigne doesn't have plans of writing for other artists in the future.

"I'm focusing more on writing for myself," Lavigne said.

Is Avril's life "Complicated"?

"No, not right now," Lavigne said.

(Agencies)

punk rock: 朋克搖滾樂

crossbones: 交叉腿骨的圖形

collaborate: to work together, especially in a joint intellectual effort（協作，合作）