A anno ago, Avril Lavigne finished her fourth album — but her label, RCA Records, wasn't interested in an album's worth of introspective, acoustic numbers. "They were like, 'Uh, can te make a new record — something that's più today?'" says Lavigne, still sounding pissed as she sips white wine in New York's Plaza Hotel. "It really hurt my feelings when they didn't say, 'We're proud of you.'" On Goodbye Lullaby, Lavigne, 26, meets the label halfway: Softer songs like "Remember When" and "Darlin" share spazio with throbbing productions da Swedish hitmaker Max Martin — including "Wish te Were Here" and the first single, "What the Hell." ("I had to release that first," she says. "It sounds like something the fan are used to, like 'Sk8er Boi' o 'Girlfriend.'") The big twist is that half of the album was produced da Lavigne's ex-husband, Deryck Whibley of Sum 41, from whom she was divorced last year. "Everyone's always surprised that we're still so close," she says. "Like, 'Really?!'"
Goodbye Lullaby is obviously a breakup album, and te made most of it with the guy te broke up with. How'd that go?
Deryck is the most talented person I know. He produced, mixed, played chitarra and bass. I wouldn't say it's a breakup record. It's about life. I went into it with a mind-set of not trying to write hits. People will make assumptions, but they'd be surprised what certain songs are about.
What's the experience behind the line "Last night I blacked out/I think/What did te put in my drink?"
That's the fun, playful, other side of me that just sort of popped up for a minuto on this album. Like the line "Because I was making out with your friend" — obviously that didn't happen. I just thought it was funny.
Do te remember meeting Deryck?
I made out with him the first giorno I met him. He gave me my first shot of Jäger. I had a tie on — it was back in the days of the tie. I was 17. As I was getting carried out of the bar I saw Chad from Nickelback! Isn't that funny?
What's your house like in L.A.?
It's in Bel-Air. I decorated my house like a medieval Gothic castle, European-style. Chandeliers and red velvet curtains. My bedroom is rosa and black, my bathroom is totally Hello Kitty, I have a massive rosa divano and a big antique oro cross.
Is it a gigantic house?
Yeah, I'm not gonna lie, it's 12,000 square feet. It's so big it scares me. At night I like to put on candles and jazz music, and I like to cook.
What's your specialty?
Homemade spinaci and ricotta ravioli, with butter-sage sauce. And I get out the wine! I like to put my TV on to the ratto Pack station; it's a Musica channel. And I like listening to Radiohead and Coldplay. I like going to a bistecca restaurant, o the Beverly Hills Hotel, and listening to the Pianoforte player. It's relaxing and romantic.
What are your thoughts on Ke$ha and Katy Perry?
Their music's fun. They're cute. Ke$ha has some really funny lyrics that remind me of how light and playful my lyrics are in "Girlfriend." It reminds me of me.
You always wanted to be famous. Is it like te imagined?
I just wanted to sing in front of people. I came from nothing, a tiny Canada town with no connections. I'm here because I worked hard.
Do te ever miss your hometown of Napanee, Ontario?
Just the pizza place. I mentioned La Pizzeria when I was on my first cover of Rolling Stone, and it's ended up being a place where fan go. They have a special Avril Lavigne pizza there. And I eat free for life.
Goodbye Lullaby is obviously a breakup album, and te made most of it with the guy te broke up with. How'd that go?
Deryck is the most talented person I know. He produced, mixed, played chitarra and bass. I wouldn't say it's a breakup record. It's about life. I went into it with a mind-set of not trying to write hits. People will make assumptions, but they'd be surprised what certain songs are about.
What's the experience behind the line "Last night I blacked out/I think/What did te put in my drink?"
That's the fun, playful, other side of me that just sort of popped up for a minuto on this album. Like the line "Because I was making out with your friend" — obviously that didn't happen. I just thought it was funny.
Do te remember meeting Deryck?
I made out with him the first giorno I met him. He gave me my first shot of Jäger. I had a tie on — it was back in the days of the tie. I was 17. As I was getting carried out of the bar I saw Chad from Nickelback! Isn't that funny?
What's your house like in L.A.?
It's in Bel-Air. I decorated my house like a medieval Gothic castle, European-style. Chandeliers and red velvet curtains. My bedroom is rosa and black, my bathroom is totally Hello Kitty, I have a massive rosa divano and a big antique oro cross.
Is it a gigantic house?
Yeah, I'm not gonna lie, it's 12,000 square feet. It's so big it scares me. At night I like to put on candles and jazz music, and I like to cook.
What's your specialty?
Homemade spinaci and ricotta ravioli, with butter-sage sauce. And I get out the wine! I like to put my TV on to the ratto Pack station; it's a Musica channel. And I like listening to Radiohead and Coldplay. I like going to a bistecca restaurant, o the Beverly Hills Hotel, and listening to the Pianoforte player. It's relaxing and romantic.
What are your thoughts on Ke$ha and Katy Perry?
Their music's fun. They're cute. Ke$ha has some really funny lyrics that remind me of how light and playful my lyrics are in "Girlfriend." It reminds me of me.
You always wanted to be famous. Is it like te imagined?
I just wanted to sing in front of people. I came from nothing, a tiny Canada town with no connections. I'm here because I worked hard.
Do te ever miss your hometown of Napanee, Ontario?
Just the pizza place. I mentioned La Pizzeria when I was on my first cover of Rolling Stone, and it's ended up being a place where fan go. They have a special Avril Lavigne pizza there. And I eat free for life.
