Call Her Daddy - The Real Avril Lavigne (FBF)

Episode Date: January 14, 2026

Join Alex in the studio for a sit-down interview with Avril Lavigne. Avril takes us through some of her most iconic fashion moments (we all remember the neckties!) and her quick rise to fame. She opens up about the feelings that inspired some of her most angsty hits and how she taught herself to make music. Avril also discusses her childhood, what it was like growing up in a strict household, being on the boys hockey team and getting fired from the fried chicken shop. She explains why she’s always preferred to hang with the guys and why skater boys are still her type. Avril gets real about what it’s like to date her, lessons learned from her past relationships, and what she looks for in a partner. Finally, Avril responds to the conspiracy theory that she’s been replaced by a body double named Melissa. Enjoy! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It is your founding father, Alex Cooper, with call. Aver Levine just walked into my studio and brought me beer, champagne, and pizza. And I've never done a podcast before. Dude, cheers. I already feel so much cooler. I'm really, really happier here. I'm obsessed. The way to kick this off is so fucking good.

Daddy gang, if you're listening to this and you cannot see anything, Avril just walked in here, pizza, beer, champagne. You're a pretty good guest. Thanks for coming. So this is your first podcast. Canadian would I be if I didn't show up with beer. I'm obsessed. I didn't know what to expect.

Like obviously I think what's so fun with songwriters and musicians is like we don't all the time get to see your personality. So you literally never know what to expect. So it's fun to immediately kick it off and be like, oh, you're comedy. You know what you're doing, Averill. Okay. First podcast. Why don't you usually do sit down among interviews? I usually don't usually don't really like.

interviews. I get it. If I'm honest. No, it's fine. It's never been like my favorite thing to do, but like you seem super cool. So I'm happy to be here. We're just going to chill for an hour and hopefully you don't hate about the end of this. I promise it's going to be chill. Yeah. You recently just announced that you're going on a North American tour and you are releasing your greatest hits album. How did you decide to do this? It's so iconic and inspiring. Yeah. So it's like 22 years into my career now, which is super gnarly to even think about. Um, and releasing a Greatest Hits album in June and going on the greatest hits tour. And it's pretty great to be going back out on the road and doing one of the biggest tours of my

career this far just off like celebrating like my catalog. So I feel like super stoked and lucky to like still be doing my thing and loving it more than ever. It's I just like not to freak you out, but I love you. and I grew up loving you and I used to make the most embarrassing music videos to all of your songs. Like I have one of the most embarrassing music videos to nobody's home and it's like little young Alex fucking depressed being like singing in the corner of my room six years old, seven years old, eight years old to now being like it's dope to be in your presence. Wow, that's crazy. Thank you. You made music videos.

I feel like you need to like find that, bring that up and put little clips on TikTok. I need to see that. See the thing is, Averill is like my. version of a music video compared to like the young kids on TikTok now like they're hot and cool and like wear cute outfits and know how to do like contour i was fucking busted with my little like acne and braces so like they're not cute okay they're for like my parents to see only and be like you were so cute alacin like mom i was hideous um what is the difference like when you go on a tour what is the difference between touring now versus like when you first started out so like on my

first tour, I wanted to be like Green Day because I had gone to one of their shows and like all of their songs were like hit after hit after hit just like singles. It was just like power all the way through. And so like on my my first tour I only had three singles and the rest was just like album tracks. And like for me that just wasn't good enough. I wanted every song to be like a banger. So I guess a day. We're super hard to get to this point where now like every single song in my set list is a hit song, a single, been like a really big milestone and part of my career. So like making a strong set list is like for me, that's like the biggest thing that goes into the show. But I think every tour has gotten easier. I've come out of my shell more as a performer. Also like bringing like

my favorite bands out on the road to open with me, like, actually, like, my friends. Yeah. Oh, that's true. So we can play, like, beer pong backstage, skateboard backstage together, have barbecues backstage. Didn't you have Simple Plan? Yeah. So Simple Plan opened for me on my first tour back in 2002 or something.

And you had All Time Low too? All Time Low are coming out. Oh, my God. I was so obsessed with All Time Low. I had post. I was like, I was like very, very obsessed with. them at a point where I was like, this is concerning. Like, I really thought I was going to marry one of them. And then, like, I obviously didn't. I was, no, I was obsessed. And I would, like, wear skinny jeans and

like the color, like, I would wear, like, skinny colored jeans. Wait, where are you from? I'm from Pennsylvania. Okay. And you're from Canada. Yeah, I'm from Canada. What do you do to make it fun on tour? Like, give me an example. I, like, touring with my friends and, like, days off taking the bus to, like, a campsite and going camping and going and pulling up into, like, an RV site, instead of, like, like going to a hotel and just like sitting there staring at the ceiling like what is my life seeing way too many of those way too long um like i just go on amazon and i get a bunch of fun like i've got a pink cooler that i've just ordered and pink chairs that'll sit outside of my bus every day there will be beer there um i'll have my skateboards out and then usually my

bus is the cool bus because of that and i have my beer pong table out there and then everyone just like after the show comes my way. Do you have any like pre-show rituals? Like are you superstitious at all? I'm just like mellow as fuck in the day because if you think about it, the show is around like 9 p.m. Which is why noon feels like super early for artists. I'm so sorry that this interview is at noon. I like come walking.

I got like one eye open. I'm just like I haven't worked out. I haven't had breakfast. I need to like make sure I'm covered here. Oh my God. I'm sorry about that. Yeah, someone came in there like, do you think you could lower the lights a little bit? I'm like, oh, right.

She is not awake. You're literally doing this asleep. You're going to leave and be like, what the fuck did I say on that interview? My time, even though the interview was at noon, my time was like, eight o'clock glam. Stop. Leave the house at 10.30. I was like, can we push glam till nine? So not superstitious.

Yeah, no, I think I just like, what's a minute. important is that I do take care of myself before the show. Yes. And then do the complete opposite after the show. So it's like sleep in hopefully till three or noon on the early side. And then like the show that is like the gym session. It's a 90 minute sat at like nine o'clock at night. So that's when I have to like give it my all be awake. But that is actually the flow of my body is to like wake up at night, not a morning person. We've made that clear. Or a new person.

You're like, why am I here? Can I take a quick nap? Alex, you just talk for the next hour. You just hang out of my. I have some pizza. That is, no, but that makes sense though, because I, like, I think that's, like, if anyone has a nighttime job, like, you're sleeping in super late. You have to bring it.

It starts. And then we don't go to bed till 6 a.m. Because you get off stage, you're wired, your aunt, the adrenaline, and then, like, bus call all. us is don't leave until like whatever three o'clock so it's like after the show we like set up a barbecue you know have fun to hang out with the bands and all that and party and for me like that tour bus that's my home so again another fun amazon order of just hello the fuck kitty everything i've got like 20 hello kitty pillows in the front lounge and i've got like hello kitty bedding

Hello Kitty towels and everything is just pink and fun. Oh my God, I didn't even think you would be a Hello Kitty girl. Yeah. I would think like maybe a lot of blah. I have a hollow kitty room on my house. Not your house? The Torvettes is Hello Kitty Torvus. But my room in at my house, I have a room.

Well, it used to be my bedroom. And it's a hello kitty bedroom. When guys came over, would they like be a little freaked out to like have sex in that room? Well, like. Averill? I wasn't, there wasn't a lot of guys. Okay, sorry. If a man.

Longer relationships. Right, right. If a man. I mean, there was like a stripper pool and the coffee in the little coffee table, like this huge pink velvet couch full of like all these stuffed animal, hello kitties. Are you getting on the stripper pool? Oh, hell yeah. Wait, you're good on a stripper pole? Wait, you need to teach me.

What the fuck? How did you learn to get on a? You just, you just, you just, you just. have a couple of those in wing it. You have a couple beers and you're ready to go, wow, a new talent. I guess if I'd asked you like, what's a hidden talent? Would you ever say that or no? No.

Next time you go to a party and they ask you a fun fact about yourself, you're like, I can rip on a stripper pole. You're welcome. What is one of the craziest, like, fan interactions you've ever had? I got a wedding dress when I was like over in Korea. Bunny was thrown at me on my lap in like a bag and I was like, oh, what's It's warm. And I like open it.

I'm like, I thought it was a cat. It was a bunny. But we took care of it. I made sure it went somewhere safe. And then I had a wedding dress. And I was like, that's cool,

but it's weird. Yeah, because now that, like, woman will never see her wedding dress yet. No, it was like, for me from a guy. Wait, what?

I thought you were saying, like, a woman gave you her wedding dress to, like, take and sign. A man gave you a wedding dress. Yeah, I guess that was a super forward way of proposing. Mm-hmm. But I have that.

affect our people. I'm going to literally. Literally. We'll get to that. Your style, can we talk about this for a minute? Because again, like when I was younger, I just remember so many moments in early 2000s trends were dictated by you, Queen. Like your style was and is everything. If you had to pick three essential wardrobe items that are like your staples, what

would you pick? A big hoodie. Just like an oversized black hoodie. Um, like bondage pants and like military boots, like combat boots. Okay. So that has like kind of changed because when I was younger, Avril, I remember it was the necktie. The necktie. But you don't understand. Like I would look at you and be like, oh my, this is the fucking coolest thing ever that she's wearing a necktie. So I would venture into my older brother's room. But he went to like a like Catholic prep school. So he had ties that were like wide as fuck and ugly and hideous. And that's the only tie I could find. And I would like wear it around my house with like a little white feeder. And I really. Oh my God. Stop. That is so cute. I really thought I was doing something. And I hope those photos never surfaced. But the neck tie was

iconic. And then like the little like the sweat bands on your wrist you used to wear, which were so cool. Yeah. It's crazy. I've been thinking about the tie a lot lately and the wristbands, the sweat bands with the skater boy star, which is like my tattoo right here. And I'll probably wear those on stage because I used to wear them all the time. All the time. Yeah. That's so fun.

Maybe I'll wear the necktie on stage. Please. Honestly, do it for me. Like I will literally have like a revival in my soul. I need to come to do a show. I'm like so obsessed. But that would be epic. I think everyone anytime we see you in a tie, it just brings us back to like our child and it makes us happy.

It was so crazy. Like my first show, so I was like 17 and it was, I don't know where it was. It was in Vancouver somewhere. And it was sort of like a warm up show they were putting together for me. And it was like in like a little club and it was like the first real show. And I remember like being up in my dressing room and looking out onto the street and seeing like all the like fans lines. up to come in and they were the girls were they were dressed like me they had on the the tank white tank top and the tie and like stick straight hair and black eyeliner and I was like what

I was like this is crazy and it like from like the first show it was like from the beginning it was like a thing and pretty cool too to see like every album like my image changed a bit so like under my skin my second album I put like black hair in and was wearing the bondage pants and and all the girls front row, like the blonde hair with the black underneath, the bondage pants, black eyes. The third album, the best damn thing, showing up the show with the pink streak in the hair and just like, I will never forget that. Trust me, I thought about doing it.

My mom was like absolutely fucking not Alex. I'm like, shit. Were you always like super confident to wear whatever you wanted to wear like your whole life? Yeah. It kind of just like came together. I didn't like think about it or anything. Like, obviously when I was younger, I was like just dressing and whatever my mom bought. And then when I got, you know, into high school, I was like, okay, I like hoodies and skateboarding clothes.

And I started skateboarding and was into like West 49 and vans and started wearing like really baggy pants. And my parents were just like, are you going to be dressing like a boy? So, like, when I, like, made, when I went out to New York City and was, like, meeting with, like, important people and writing songs in the studio, they were kind of like, can you, like, dress up a little better? But what was awesome was when I got signed by L.A. Reed, I was sitting in his office. I was, like, 16, and he just looked at me. And he was, like, taking a meeting with my mom and I. And he was like, you know, you have, like, your own thing going on, girl. Usually we have people come in and you have to like figure out what your style is and we like help you and whatever. And he's like, you got your own thing going on. Like you just keep doing you. And like I think that was awesome.

I'm so glad he did that. Probably like looking back that did instill confidence in me. But also like I didn't care. I was going to dress that way anyway. Right. No, but that's like a great thing to know that someone didn't try to change you. that was probably in a position where like if they asked you to, I'm sure your mom and you would have looked to each other and like,

fuck, like is this what we have to do to make it in this industry? And like normally they probably, especially like at that time with like all bubble gum pop was so big. They probably would have put me in something sexy, cute, pink, girly, frilly, like mid-drift. And like that wasn't not my vibe. There's definitely like times that like photo shoots.

I'd show up at whatever magazine to shoot, to shoot and they wanted to put me in stuff that like I was very afraid of like blouses and I was just like nah so I'd like you know you'd have to like have a word with them the manager would be like you know she has her own style and like pull out my like skateboarding book bag and dump like my ties and my spike bracelets on the floor and be like and I use for my stuff but we had to go back and forth but it was like a little bit of a fight aid. I had to always push for that. But it worked out pretty good. It worked out phenomenally. I want to go back a little bit to your childhood because I think like when you're looking at someone so famous and so successful, it is fascinating. Like you grew up in Canada in a really

small town with like 5,000 people. How would you describe your childhood like before you were famous? How would you describe your childhood like before you were famous? Normal as fuck. And I'm like grateful for that because like I came out at like a really young age and I'm glad that I had like a normal steady like solid childhood. I played a lot of sports. I was on the hockey team. I was going to say the guys hockey team. How the fuck did you get onto the guys hockey team? Well I just wanted to play hockey and it was like the guys there wasn't a girls league. So I was able to play from like not to pee-wee and then pee-wee is when there's body contact and that's when I wasn't allowed to play anymore but then at that by that time I was in grade nine like my first year of high school and they

had a girls team in the high school so I tried out for that and I almost said auditioned you audition I tried out for the girls team in high school and I made it and then I blew it by going to our first tournament out of town and getting expelled from school and kicked off the out of the tournament because someone got caught drinking in the hotel room and someone ratted around. No, I'm wrong. And my parents were just so mad at me. It was like, I like did drugs or something, which I've never done by the way. And it was like, I had done something so terrible.

It's like, who cares? Of course I'm, I'm away from my parents. I'm in a hotel. We're in Toronto, the big city. been like an, you know, like an offset tournament and like, yeah, I got busted. So I got, had to go home. My parents were like, we're going to send you to the Catholic school. And I was just like, oh, what have I done? Stop. Did you make friends with all the guys when you were playing with like guys or were you like the odd man out and people would make fun of you?

My whole life I've been like friends with guys all in school and we would like get in real fights. I'm a good blocker. That was my move. I'm a blocker. Like, block the punch. And yeah, so I play a lot of sports. Hockey in the winter, baseball in the summer. I was a pitcher.

There was a lot of, like, because I was so into hockey, like there's a lot of, like, rollerblading. So I was rollerblading around town, building forts, skateboarding, and all that stuff. Yeah, I hung out with the guys. And then I, like, left home, had a band. lived on a tour bus with guys. And still, like, to this day,

I'm just, like, most of my friends are guys. Did your parents ever be, like, why don't you have any girlfriends? Like, should we invite, like, Rebecca over? Like, let's try this. Let's give it a whirl-averal. Or did they, like, not give a shit? My parents were really strict with me.

Like, if I had a guy over, who was just my friend, even, like, there was no bedroom. It was, like, the middle floor. They monitored it. it was dinner. It was, but all we wanted to do anyway was went around and like rollerblades, skateboard, play mini hockey.

I played hockey too and my brother played hockey. You did? Yes. What position? I was like, well, first of all, I was like not that great. I ended up going and playing soccer, but I was like on offense and my dad works for the NHL. Yeah.

So like my whole life hockey. Whoa. It was, oh my God. We were a full hockey. It was cool. Oh my God. It was cool. But we were like, it was weird, I think, in Pennsylvania.

like you're lucky Canada. It was like, that's the sport. Yeah. But in Pennsylvania, people were like, why do you have your children playing fricking hockey? And my dad was like, it's just the best sport ever. Like, just trust us. And so we had like roller hockey, mini hockey in the basement on the carpet. And you take the sticks and burn them over the stove.

Yes. Oh my God. And like I think people are like, what are you guys doing in your basement? And we're like, we're playing mini hockey. Living our best lives. Literally thriving. And it was so fun. No one will ever fuck with us from we're older.

But it's cool that you played hockey because I feel like it's obviously a sport that makes you really fucking tough. It does. And you just learn to like basically get the shit beaten out of you on the ice. And then you're like, oh, it's normal day. And it's freezing cold. And you wake up and just skating alone is so hard. It's like gnarly cardio. And then if you're actually like playing and stick handling and shooting and like you're out there and the game is happening, skating is its own thing.

Oh my God. I remember like I want, because Matt, my husband is from L.A. And I so badly just want to take him like ice skating. Even if it's like during Christmas time around like the little fucking pond, okay? Because he's so good at sports, but he does know how to ice skate. So I'm like, watch me backwards skate. Watch me skate around. Watch me do drills, bitch. Are you awesome on skates?

I'm really good. Me too. We should go skate. Yes. Let's do it. We're in LA. Like I can skate backwards. crossover, all of it.

It's like, it is a pretty good skill to have. And I feel like it's a flex when like a guy takes you ice skating during like the holidays. And you're like, oh, you think I'm going to have to hold your hand or hold on to like the rails the whole time. Bitch. I'm going to be holding you. Like I know Matt's going to be falling and I'm going to be holding him. I just don't know if I want to take him because I may get the ick. So I just like need to be careful.

I know. Like make sure he's ready for that. No, literally. So you like had a pretty normal upbringing, which I'm happy you're talking about because it's like you're playing sports. You're hanging. I babysat. I shoveled driveways. I mowed lawn.

Oh my God. And did the whippersnipper. The weed whacker. The whippersnipers? I put flyers out. Stop. I cleaned houses. You did it all?

I worked at a fried chicken place. How was that? And then I got fired. Again, were you drinking on the job? No, I'm a really good, a hard worker. I actually asked, requested for some time off to perform somewhere and he used it against me. Oh my God, he must feel so fucking dumb now. He's like, fuck.

And then I wrote a song about it on my first album. Wait, which one? It's called My World. And that's about the chicken shop you worked at? Got fired by a fried chicken ass all in a small town, Nafony. Wait, that was about him. Shut the fuck up. And, like, I heard after they, like, took the lyrics of my song and, like, framed it and put it up in the store.

You're like, fuck. Fuck you. I could have used the extra $20. That's fucking epic. I didn't realize that. Now I need to go back and listen to that song again because sometimes when you're listening to songs, you're like, oh, did they just kind of like make that up

or like that you literally lived that. You got fucking fired from those chicken fuckers. I talk about my hair is actually so curly. Like no one knows that. I have a really frizzy curly hair. What? I didn't discover the flat iron until the making of my first album. So on that song, also my world,

I talk about how I would braid my hair in a zillion braids, and it would take me all friggin' day. Are there my lyrics? Because it would take me five hours. So I was just braid my hair in little braids because there was no flat iron back then, or definitely not in my small town. Right. Then when I came to L.A.

I was like working on my album. My producer took me to get a blow dry. And I was like, what? This is life-changing. Do you know what I have done? I'm not, I used to, like, shower and, like, wash my hair and, like, put on a toque. Stop. What you guys call a beanie in the States, a beanie.

Just, like, let my hair try to drive flat. I couldn't get it straight. You're trying to literally, like, pin it to your head. So then she got me, my producer got me a flat iron. Actually, yeah, for my birthday. And then it was game over. Everyone just thinks I have stick straight hair. Because it's, like, never.

Well, I ever want curly hair again. It's so straight. It's so straight. Like, your first album, I remember. member because my hair is so naturally straight that I was like oh my because so girls used to make fun of me in like middle school being like your best friend is your straightener and I was like I was like I don't own a straightener because my hair was so straight. So when I saw your first album I was like oh my god she's a straight hair girl like me now I'm realizing like averil. Dude if you saw my hair it's like poof.

It's like so curly. I hate it. But like my friends like it's so gorge. Like I bet you actually look amazing but I get when you're younger like anything you have you're like I want the opposite I don't want this shit but my hair is so thick so when I do get a blow dry it's like last for like a week when I'm thinking now of how normal your upbringing was like yeah what do you think people in your town thought when you started getting famous I don't know like do you think it was a surprise to people like okay so like around school okay so when I was 14 I won a contest to sing on stage with Shania Twain in Ottawa. So it was like a few hours away from my small town.

And like I sang on stage with her. And then I came back and I was like famous in my high school. It was like walking down to the hallway. It's like, ah, singer girl. She's the singer girl. So everyone kind of knew me as like the singer girl. You got famous at 17 years old. Yeah.

Like big, big thing. So I'm a high school dropout. Love. Love. Me too. I went to New York and I started making my first album. My friends were all doing, what are those things called the exams? Oh.

That's the shit I didn't have to do? Is it an exam? Like SATs? What's the thing at the end? Yeah, an exam. Yeah, I didn't have to do that. And I would make fun of them and I'd be like, thank God I don't have to do this.

I'm just in New York, gaining 10 pounds, eating McDonald's and pizza every day. No shit. That's all my brother and I did because he came to chaperone. Oh my God. And so, yeah. And but all I was thinking at the same time was, this better work. Right. You're like, fuck.

That's better work. Because I feel like you're a quite confident person. Like, did you have any insecurities back then? No. I was like, just like tomboy, like to hang out with the guys, loved music. And then, you know, like when I was younger, I was singing in church, singing at like the country fairs around town that's kind of like those were sort of the like options in front of me then when I got into high school so like 14 15 I was like not really feeling these

songs anymore so I like went through a phase where it was like I could have gone you know I was at crossroads it could have been like okay I'm not going to sing anymore or it was just like I was just like I don't want to do these events anymore um so I started turning them down and it was kind of like, oh, what are we doing here? And that forced me to write my own songs. So I sat in my bedroom and was like playing the guitar. I had no idea what I was doing. I knew one chord, but I was going to figure it out.

And so I started definitely like writing for sure at 14. I didn't know that because one of my songs I wrote. Oh, my God. Really, I'm 14 years old. No. I'm not that old. That's one of the fucking lyrics in the song. So I was like, I know I was writing by 14 years.

14. That's amazing. Yeah. And then I got into high school and then I discovered like Green Day and no effects, Blink 182. And I was like, yes. And like got an electric guitar, wore it low and just started writing my own songs. And that's kind of like where it all shifted for me. And then sort of like ended up performing again and making my way to New York City. getting a record deal by like 16 and was so young. No one could fathom that like I wanted to write my own songs. So that was like the biggest sort of challenge on the making of the first album and that everyone more. The producers, you know, they naturally went to like polished and fluffy and this and that. And I was just like no. And it was like really, I worked with a million people on that album. And then I finally connected towards the end with a couple of producers that then understood they like sat there and listened to me and and heard what I was going for we wrote the songs together and it was like a really perfect collaboration where it was like okay

there's this young girl she has a vision we're going to work with her and help her get there and they were all extremely talented people too and so fought for that got it and like you know developed my own sound and style and and the rest is history that first like that first like sound and style. Like I remember I was reading somewhere you really described it as like pretty like angsty. And like you coming across as like a quite like chill happy person, like were you actually feeling a lot of those emotions? Because like some of the songs are really fucking sad because trust me, I cried to them and I was growing up. So like where were those feelings coming from? I'm a really big feeler and I feel everything and I've gone through, you know, I've obviously

experienced all different types of emotion. When you're in high school. when you're going in that age, you know, you're really trying to, you're like feeling, having a crush for the first time, or being disappointed, feeling neglected, or, like, being vulnerable and opening your heart to someone, your first breakup and the excitement of something new. There's so much to, like, tap into and to write about. I was never really thinking about it.

It would probably just end up being, like, that day what I was feeling. They're definitely like songs like losing grip. I'm often like, I listen to the lyrics and I'm like, and I knew it when I was writing them. Like, where's this shit coming from? Is this my past life? Are your parents ever like, what the fuck, April? Are you okay? I'm not really, but they were like, they didn't like the swearing.

They were a little like, you know, the clothes and da-da-da. But like they get it. My mom when I was two, she was like, she knew I was going to be a singing. her like came home from church she's like she's holy shit holy god she's like came home she said i came home from church singing jesus loves me or jesus loves you and she's like oh my god she can sing and so my parents were like so supportive and like obviously wouldn't be here without that support were you always confident getting on a stage like are you like i feel like you're not you were you yeah because like i always this weird dream though where I'm on stage and I can't remember the words why have I been doing that

lately we stop but no I'm confident on stage it's like you never even thought about it yeah it's like nothing yeah that's incredible and when okay and then when I sang with shnaya on stage it was in front of like 20,000 people in this arena like packed was 14 that I did all I felt like overcome my whole body was like like I like walked out on stage and I was just like oh my gosh like I really this is what I really want for me. And then like two years later, three years later, I sold out that arena and played my own show. Do you remember like how you felt? I was like, this is crazy. This is insane. And when you would have those moments of like, holy fuck, like would you turn to like your mom? Like who was your go to person to like freak out with? I still like have them all the time.

Wow. Just like if I'm just like walking, I hear myself like out in public and I'm like, I was going to say, and I'm in a mall and then I hear myself, but I'm not really in a mall. I don't know where I am. Maybe it's an outdoor mall. I don't know. I love wherever I am and I hear myself on the radio. Like it's, it's definitely like, damn, bitch. You made it. Like, you did. Small town. No connections. I don't know how I did it. It was supposed to happen, obviously. It was. A lot of hard work. But it's really interesting to hear you talking about your songwriting process because you're so talented. Thank. And hearing you be like, I'm writing losing grip and I'm literally like, what the fuck am I? Where did I, did I experience this?

Like nobody's home. Like it's, right. Well, I kind of felt that way too. But like, I was also like, okay, I'm going to write this about this like girl that I know or like the words sort of start. And I'm like, oh, I'm going to take it in this direction. And it's not about me. And I'm tapping into like what I know somebody else went through. Interesting.

Yeah. How did you feel about all the fame and attention? I think I was fine with it. And like my whole life is like weird because of it. Like everything I do, you're in public. So you just like do weird things. Like there's people walking. So you just kind of turn or like you're not just going to like stand there.

You know, it's like I mean if I was like in an airport waiting for like a suitcase, you know, you're going to like kind of stand behind the like pillar. You're not just going to stand. It's all like that. And it never bugged me or anything. I just like I got it. I was like, okay, this is how things go now. That's a really healthy way to look at it.

Because I feel like that's a unique perspective. Yeah. Like I feel like a lot of people feel like they don't have autonomy over their life once they get famous. And you're like, chilling. Like I get followed every time, not every time, but I get followed when I leave my house. I don't know how I try to like go different ways and stuff like that. And so like I like to go to the grocery store and I like to do all that stuff. But I have to be in the headspace to like energetically, energetically handle it,

which I'm totally fine with too. Like, do you really want your picture taken like this if you walk out right now? Are you okay with it? You know what I mean? It's like you have to think about that. That's, I mean, I am really pleased by your answer. Like, there is no right or wrong answer. Like, I've had musicians sit here and be like, I'm such an introvert.

It's really fucking hard. And like, I hate it and I wish I could just write songs and upload it and never be in public. That's awesome to know that you're someone that's like, I don't really care. It's actually kind of chill. It is what it is. And like I learned. it and how to move with it. And it's like, I would never complain about it because what I get to do is fucking awesome.

And that's part of it. Like, how fucking cool is that? That like, people know who I am. That means my music got heard. So fucking true. What do you think people, if anything, like, misunderstood about you from your career and like you growing up in the spotlight? So I think when people meet me, like, I think they're like, oh my God, you're so nice.

you're so sweet I've had like ask people to like guys they're like you're like like more like I don't know what the word is like soft like feminine more than girly or something I think people

because of like my maybe my music videos think I'm like like all the time I'm not I'm actually like well what do you think what is your take on me? I mean I yeah I mean just

now trying to think about it because I think when you were younger, I really, and I was younger, I channeled like, oh, this girl's sad and angry. Like, because. I know, it was like, angry Avril. Yeah. And I think that was like, but now it's kind of really incredible to like get to sit across from you and hear you be like some of these songs I was writing like there was a girl I knew and I was like writing about her and then like it really wasn't that deep like my boss fucking fired me from my chicken spot and so I'm like fuck you I wish I got my extra 20 and my new my other paycheck like I think it's I do think though I don't take back though like I loved how deep those songs were and they were because I felt like a lot of people needed that that type of music back then like I think

you're right there was so much like pop and princess and it was like woo like let's shake our bodies and beat and I'm like I don't my my crush that doesn't even know I exist broke up with me and he didn't even know he broke up with me, but he didn't look at me today, so I'm heartbroken, and I'm going to go listen to losing grip and I'm going to fucking cry. I needed that, okay?

I don't need like a shake your body and dance and be happy. Sure, maybe on a Friday night, but like I in that era needed that depressing-esque music. Is that fucked up to say? Yeah. But it's nice to know you weren't depressed, I guess? I mean, I went through it all,

and I was like a teenager and feeling the feels, and I was definitely like, and, like, emo and like, going through. it and like feeling it all and um it's like I don't want to write a song about being happy because it's gonna be kind of like cheesy and like not that cool kind of go and do that right now I'm like I don't know what to write about because like it's just like that's the thing it's like an intense emotion like head above water was like a really dark heavy song for me like kind of like near death experience like one of the hardest things I've ever gone through in my life

but like, real easy to write about. Yeah. It's literally like laying there in bed like, I'm dying and I'm accepting it. Oh, there's a song. Got your time. And I literally grabbed my phone and like the song like channels come me. Are you referencing when you got sick?

Yeah. Okay. And that was really kind of like what two plus years of your life? You were like in bed? Yeah. It was like I was kind of like bedridden for a couple years and like and then like you know like stronger coming out of that and that's something like rocks you pretty hard but like I'm really grateful to be like on the other other end of that and so that was like a really um in

i'll think twice about uh riding the dirt bikes out in the woods on the east coast next time because it was lines yeah it's all i did was like outside and it's like you know but i get what you're saying you're like then you're laying there and you're like yeah i can write a depressing song right now because this fucking sucks but it's like waves of emotion. that you're like tuning into. And like I've gone through a lot in my life in love like tons of ups and downs and like, you know, I've definitely written like the angry songs and the sad songs and having going through like something hard in life.

It's easy to like sit down at the piano, especially that instrument really pulls it out of me. Um, but unlike my last album, Love Sucks. It was like much lighter, even though it was like a little boy bashing and like poking fun at like love and stuff. It was, I kind of like putting in a twist on my songs now where it's like it's like, it's funny. It's like I'm just like rolling my eyes at myself or like not working out again or something and just like having fun with it. I don't like, I'm in a phase in a place right now today where I'm writing. I don't really like want it to be like that dark. I say that means nothing at all because tomorrow I could like go write a

a boo-hoo song. I think that's something that I just never know. Like with it's like when I, when I'm in the kitchen and I'm cooking, I don't know what I'm cooking and it turns into what it turns into. I get a canvas. I love to paint. I have no idea what I'm doing. I'm like, oh, that looks cool.

That can go on the wall. That one, not so much. Totally. It's when you write a song sometimes like, you. you can be intentional with an album go in and be like, this is my vibe, or you can just like wing it, right,

and just see what kind of comes out and gets put together. I think that some people may not know. Like I love that you said, like when you walked into those meetings, people were like, how is like a 15, 16 year old girl trying to write? Like here, let us give you writers and like just go sing,

sweetie. And I think you're such an incredible, I know you're such an incredible writer that like, I know one of the fun facts online that everyone still can't get over is that you wrote Breakaway for Kelly Clarkson. And that's like a perfect example of like you're so talented. Do you remember writing that song and like was it about a heartbreak? The lyric used to be I grew up in a small town and when the snow would fall down. I would just stare out my window. I'm actually going to probably will perform that breakaway,

Kelly Clarkson's Breakaway on the Greatest Hits tour. That would be fucking amazing. But how did you just I just like wasn't feeling it. Yeah. And I'm so glad it went to her. She killed it. It was a massive hit for her. And yeah, it's kind of like just like growing, being from a small town and taking a chance and like going into the big city and going after your dream. There is a crazy rumor out there about you that I obviously have to ask about.

And I always ask people when they come on my show like, oh, what's the craziest rumor that you've ever heard about yourself? I guess I could just first ask you like, what would you? like what would you answer before I ask you? Oh, yeah, that one. I know what you're talking about. I mean, it's just funny to me. Like on, like, one end, everyone's like, and like, oh, you look the exact same.

You haven't aged a day. But then other people are like, you know, there's a conspiracy theory that I'm not me. There is a... No. Cool. Honestly, it's not that bad. It could be worse, right?

Like, I feel like I got a good one. But is it, okay. I don't think it's like negative or anything like creepy. It's like, it's a little. Averill, this conspiracy theory about you is a little creepy. Come on. Oh. No.

Yeah, I don't know. It could be worse. It could. Yeah. No, you could be getting like online books. Obviously, I am. It's so dumb. To people that don't understand just to give people context,

there's a conspiracy theory that Avrilavine is no longer with us. And there is a woman named Melissa who took over. And you, I can't even say seriously. You sitting across to me, you are Melissa. And there are like conspiracy theories that run so fucking deep. Like, does it annoy you that there will be people that comment on this episode being like, that's Melissa. That's not Avril? When did it start my second album? Like, I don't even know. Like I think like from the beginningish second album, I don't know. And why do you think people think that? I think that they've done that with other artists. I'm not the only one. I think like other people have that. I feel like yours is like really prominent. Oh, I mean, I feel like you might believe that. I'm honestly the one that started the conspiracy.

I'm one of those freak bloggers that's like, I went undercover to interview Melissa. Oh my God. No, but it's fucking crazy. And I just have empathy for you, but it's good again to know you don't give a fuck where people are like, oh, Melissa showed up today. I'm like, I remember being like, what are people talking about? And then I went and started looking and like, oh, people are fucking insane. So you don't care.

We're over it. Okay. So your name is Avrilavine. Yeah. But I knew you have believed it. I'm telling you what's crazy is you haven't aged. I'm staring at you. And like I'm picturing you with your like Auburn hair.

I'm like, oh my God, you literally look the same from when you were younger. You're beautiful. Thank you. Let's talk about your love life. Your career exploded when you were so young. Like, were you still able to go on dates with guys and them not be freaked out by your success? I never really did the dating thing. I was always, like, in a pretty major relationship.

Your relationship girl? Yeah. What are you like in a relationship? I'm fucking awesome. I would date me. I love that. I cook. I'm a really big cook, really big into like,

the house and decorating and I have like a lot of fun with that so yeah I'd always have people over at my house throw parties cook big huge dinners at the dining room table I'm gonna order that keg sand there is going to be a full bar we are going to have beer pong and stay up until the sun comes up it's gonna be a good time and there will be hello kitty and there will be matching tattoos involved all of my tattoos were drunk tattoos and like they'd be boring if I was sober. All of them are drunk. So let's finish this beer and then we'll call my tattoo. We'll go to Shamrock on sunset. Okay, so all these are drunk tattoos. Yeah, I like the Skater Boy Star was my first tattoo. I was 19 and then. Do your parents have tattoos? All my

tattoos are, oh, I have tattoos on my hips. Um, no, I think I'm the only one in the family, really, with a bunch of tattoos. My dad had a couple. Okay. What is the hardest lesson you've ever learned about love? I mean, I definitely went through my like jaded phase with my previous album called Love Sucks. And I had gone into a place of, all right, I'm just going to like focus on myself. I'm going to move to Malibu.

I'm going to build my own life for me. And I'm not going to like wait for a guy or rely on a guy to like do that and um it definitely felt like i had the wind knocked out of me um i had been through like enough and um it was definitely like never i was in a place of like never trust a guy again and just like you're gonna have to like rely on yourself um but i don't feel that way today thankfully that's amazing yeah have you ever been cheated on have i been with a male before Then the answer is yes. Much as anyone's ever fucked me over, which has happened a shit ton.

I've always just like been the classy bitch and taken the high road and kept it to myself. I appreciate that. I think a lot of people stay in things because they're like nervous to start over. I think that's like a really normal feeling, especially for women. It's like. Yeah, people are fearful. Fearful. Do you have any advice?

of like how to know when to move on and like how to get yourself out of something that's like maybe comfortable but you know you need to like be on your own and be single it's hard when you're in something because like you're in it so you know it's a big deal to leave a relationship to to change is hard to have to step out it requires a lot you know and some people can't see like that that clearly it's like always easier once you're on the other end, but if you're not happy, you're never going to be happy. And life is short and you should just really get out as soon as possible. So you can move on and then, you know, have a better future for yourself.

Some people like to have like something that they're leaving and going to. And, you know, sometimes you have to take that leap of faith and just trust that if you're not happy, it's not a healthy relationship. It's not a good situation just to get out. and it's okay to have like time on your own in between if you need it and you know just believe and hope that something greater is out there for you and if not you're better off on your own than someone draining the fuck out of you facts thank you um are you seeing anyone right now now i know even if you were you're never going to fucking tell me maybe okay what do you look for

in a partner do you remember this year? Oh, kind of. Okay, let's try it again. Fuck. You're avoiding my question. Okay. Do it again. Do it again. Okay. Okay. That's pretty good. And are you a beer drinker? I am when I'm like, whether I'm like outside for summer. Like I'm not drinking beer usually if it's like winter, but if it's like summer. I like to drink it like with Matt if I'm sitting outside with my dogs. It's like a chill drink. If I'm like, oh, I don't want to be drinking tequila tonight, I will drink beer. And also in college. Are you kidding? me I was drinking Maddie's like a freak and like it was bad and beer bonging and everything. So like any day, anytime, anytime in California, you could be beer drinker. Absolutely. Exactly. Pennsylvania. You should come to my house in Malibu. We'll have a beer day and play beer pong. And you'll answer some of my questions off camera. Yeah. Oh honey, if you only knew. You're giving us blue balls. Okay. What do you? What do you? Okay, so you may be seeing someone.

What do you look for in a partner? So I think the most important thing is finding someone that you're compatible with because you could be two different great people, but if you're not compatible, you're not going to get along. So like, you're going to argue. So compatibility. Obviously, it all just sounds cliche, someone that is trustworthy because if you don't have that, you're just never going to feel grounded in the relationship and you're going to

be spinning. So that's just not healthy. I'm looking for, you know, a healthy relationship is ideal. Duh. Like, do we really have to say these things are so simple and cliche and basic? But that's what you need.

No, it's true. You need compatibility, trust, like. Do you have a type? I don't think I have a type, but like someone who's at least like, I think someone who's like me who's like, sporty, got a little rough around the edge. likes to have a good time but is like you know a solid i need someone who's like a solid that i can lean on to yeah oh my god would you ever date like an athlete what about a hockey player no you're like they're too no what about a guy from canada that's on the in the n hl come on wait that's fucking

perfect no we're done with the rappers did you ever date tagga you're like you're like Get out of here. Wait, does it annoy you that every time you upload something with Tyga, people are like, is this your announcement that you're dating or you don't care? Like, I didn't Google myself. Is that what it says? Yes, Melissa. It says that.

You're like, bitch, you really believe it. I promise I don't. What does it take for a guy to impress you on a first date? I think I've changed a lot and my expectations and what I am looking for because I've like, like, you know, learned through my experiences and just, you know, I'm into something that's just like stable, healthy, fun, just well-rounded. Yeah. What?

I'm like this. The shit just sounds super cheesy. That's why I don't write love songs. Everl, this is good. This is like therapy. Like you can totally be happy and say happy. thoughts but then like please keep writing bangers that like make me cry like although like girlfriend was like not pop well that was actually not happy

it was actually dark it was just like sassy and cocky I don't like your girlfriend I think you need a new one I could be your girlfriend oh my god I wrote that fucking song in two minutes that chorus literally two minutes I was like putting my book bag on leaving the studio it was like 11 o'clock at night and I was like play me a riff because we were boring borrowing. We had this like amazing Les Paul and I was talking to Luke and I was like, yo, play me something like punk rock right now. And he's like, darren and a neer na na nao. And I was like, hey, you, I don't like a girlfriend. And he's like, and we're like, no way. And he's like, think you need a new one. And I was like, hey, you, I could be a girlfriend. Literally, he puts

the drums to it. Two minutes wrote that. Put it on a CD. I got a CD put in my car and I took it home as like, this is going to be the song of the summer. It was. And I knew it. And my body has done that to me, like, with my happy ending. I said, we were in the studio, made a song. I came in after I was done singing it, sat down. They played me the song. And I was like, I just got this entire feeling over my body. And I just like, I can't explain it. I was like, it was like, it was like, I knew it was big. But I wasn't like, this is a hit. Like, I didn't like talk like that. But I was like, this is going to be like, I could feel it.

Like I knew it was going to be a big song for me. The same with Complicated. Laying in the grass in California, one of my first trips. And around the orange trees with writing with Lauren. And we're like working on this song. And I just remember like sitting on the floor. And I'm like, I hear this on the radio. Like I have like these really strong feelings with like some of my big songs.

Do you remember? I never had that feeling with a song. that didn't like go to wild yeah go to number one when you came up with complicated was that one where you were actually like experiencing it in your life or you were just like I just was kind of like it just felt right and I like came

up with this verse and it worked I would had like a couple weeks or a month with the Matrix and Lauren and I were just like getting blow drys and like getting cupcakes at Ralph's and like sitting in the backyard and just talking now she's like you know like I love skater boys and this is the only type of guy I'm attracted to. I will literally walk down the street and I see someone wearing

big fat skate shoes and I will look twice. So it was like our conversations and then, you know, them as a team working musically on stuff and us all getting together and just complicated skater boy, I'm with you. Those are the singles off the first album. Where were you when you wrote I'm with you? We were sitting on the piano. It was like, that one's heartbreaking. That was like one of those days where you're like getting in touch with the sad like more like depressed like self and that's that's okay and you know people you know really connected with that song and still to this day that's like one of my favorite songs to perform live it's fucking powerful like even to me 22 years later I play that fucking shit on stage I'm seeing people like we're going from like all the pop rock songs

everyone's like fist pumping and like losing their shit I go into that tears people like moved and it's like you see all the different emotions and that's why writing is important to me because I'm so connected to the songs I think there's something with like my me being like super authentic in the way that like I dressed and like wrote the songs and just the way I was and didn't give a fuck and wasn't calculated and it was all and people really like were attracted to that and like connected with that. Well yeah, because when you look at someone in the industry

you can literally tell like and I'm not being like rude. It's just obvious when someone has been like constructed by like these dance moves and this song and this is. I'm like you didn't write that song. You wouldn't wear that if a stylist like the stylist put that on you. You can tell like you've been yourself since day one and you've stuck up for what you believe in literally from the fashion to your writing to your writing to your your sound to your look.

Like, thank God you, you got you a straightener. Now you're happy. I want to see your green hair. I didn't want to think about what I was wearing today. And I was like, oh my God, you have this really cool, like, sweat line. It's called Unwell. Yeah. That's so cool.

I was like, oh, yeah, I just want to, like, pull up and, like, wear sweats. And instead, I just wore the, like, shirt I was, like, wearing the night before I literally brand this T-Jure for two days. I'm obsessed. I'm obsessed. I know, because when I thought you were going to wear sweats, I was like, oh, my God, I would totally give you sweats, but this outfit is so cute. I will put the sweats on and go home and veg in them for three days. Thank you. No, Abrel, I just

want to say thank you for coming because like I had no idea what to expect, obviously meeting you. I was like, obviously hoping that we would hit it off because again, like I'm such a huge fan. But it's fascinating and it was incredible to meet you and to like listen to where you came from and your upbringing and your story and like how fucking talented you are. Like the way that I'm sorry, like I could listen. to you for 10 more hours talk about your songwriting process because again like we don't see that that often nowadays. I feel like a lot of people are just like very manufactured and you are such an artist from the start to finish. I think this tour and this album is like I'm freaking out about it so I can imagine all of your other fans are also freaking. What do you hope they take away from this tour

when they come? It's just like for the fans that have been with me from day one, it's just like even for myself, it's just all the years and all the different eras and all the different phases in our lives from like high school to this date, to that date, and connecting with the songs and like you hear a song and it takes you back. I even hear like one of my songs and it takes me back to like that time of my life. It's like it's been, you know, so long. It's been 22 years and I feel like I have like another 22 ahead of me. But it's a journey of our lives. It like takes us back to high school at college, like this phase, that phase, that relationship, this summer, that summer, and that's like the power and beauty in music is like, it can take you right

back there. You can feel it all over again. I think it's just like a celebration of life, our lives and remembering like all the good times and music does that. And I think the shows are going to be like super fun. I'm stoked to be going back out on tour, my seventh world tour. And I'm like so grateful to like be from a tiny little town. playing hockey and skateboarding and to have been able to like write music and to have it be successful internationally

and to have like to still be doing my thing today I'm like looking forward to like growing like creatively and dipping my toes in the other creative waters and doing film and like turning skater boy into a movie and like you know all that other stuff so I'm super

grateful but I just want everybody have a good time and most importantly, I want to have a good time. Last question, what are the top three favorite songs for you that you're going to be performing? Like if you had to pick three. Oh, my own songs? Yeah, yeah, yeah. When you're going out there from the album and on this tour, like, what are your top three favorites to perform if you had to pick? I know that's hard. Well, it's funny because there's no new songs. Right. So like I definitely want to bring a cover song in. And I recently just met up with the Green Day Boys and gave them an award at the, the I Heart Awards and it's like seeing them again.

I was like, these guys are cool. Like, Duky was one of the first CDs like my brother and I had. And like they're celebrating that right now. And so like I definitely want to do a Green Day cover. And girlfriend is really fun. I love I'm with you. My happy ending. So good.

And of course, skater boy. Skater boy. Boom. Avril, thank you so much. And maybe I'll put the tie on. for you. Please. Send me a fucking picture. And you have to come out to the LA show. Please. Oh, that's when you're going to wear it. Please. Like, literally, please. Like, make me feel so special. But you and your hubby should come to the show. Oh my God. We would love to. I would love to come.

Thank you for coming on the show. You can go to bed now. I love you.