Avril Lavigne
Biography
From
early childhood onwards, Avril Lavigne always stood out among the
5000 residents of Napanee, Ontario, where she was born. At first
distinguished from her female peers because of her affinity for
the baseball field in the summer and the hockey rink in the winter,
Avril became recognizable in the community on the basis of her musical
performances. By age 10, she had graduated from the local church
choir to the regional fairgrounds, singing country music in competitions.
Three years later, Avril began making her impact outside of Napanee,
as her vocal skill won her the grand prize in a radio station contest:
a trip to the city of Ottawa, to perform a duet in concert with
another Ontario native, country music star Shania Twain.
By the
time Avril reached high school, her vocal prowess seemed rivaled
only by her ability to play the guitar, and she began sending videotapes
of her stage performances to labels and management companies throughout
North America. Following a host of rejections, her talent eventually
caught the eyes of Nettwerk Management, an organization that fostered
other such Canadian acts as Sarah McLachlan, Sum 41 and Barenaked
Ladies.
Nettwerk
arranged for Avril to fly down to New York City to meet with some
other songwriters and begin work on a demo tape. As it turned out,
Avril was signed before she even had a chance to complete the demo.
An Arista Records representative came to visit Avril at her studio,
and was sufficiently impressed with her voice to return with Arista
CEO Antonio "L.A." Reid, who immediately signed the then
16-year-old to a contract.
After
briefly returning to Canada, Avril made the move to Manhattan to
embark on her professional career, accompanied by her older brother
Matt as an escort. Although she had been signed to Arista strictly
as a vocalist, Avril balked at the notion of singing someone else's
songs and insisted on having a hand in the writing process. When
she failed to click with any New York-based songwriters, Avril made
her third move of the year, this time to Los Angeles. It was on
the West Coast that she met producer/songwriter Cliff Magness, with
whom she immediately developed a rapport. The two began composing
together, and within a few months' time, Avril's debut album had
begun to take shape.
Avril's
first single, "Complicated," was released in the early
spring of 2002, and immediately began scaling the charts across
the continent. By the summer, the track had reached the top spot
among Canadian singles, and was in the top 15 on the Billboard Adult
40 list. The popularity of "Complicated" paved the way
for the success of Avril's first full-length CD, Let Go, which debuted
at #8 on the Billboard charts in June 2002.
While
Avril's vocal range and high-energy musical style has brought her
comparisons ranging from Alanis Morissette to Pink, she has been
adamant in positioning herself as a unique artist, one who runs
counter to the mainstream. This persona has been nurtured thanks
to the lyrics of such songs as "Sk8er Boi," wherein Avril
is none too subtle in voicing her anti-conformist stance, and through
her public remarks regarding other female musicians, notably Britney
Spears.
It is
a formula which, to date, has worked like a charm: for a debut artist,
Avril boasts a staggering fan base, and the media interest surrounding
this young singer seems far from receding. Conjoin this one-of-a-kind
personality with a memorable voice and obvious musical talents,
and it seems as if Avril may be in the spotlight for some time to
come.
Avril Lavigne Filmography
Over the Hedge (2006)
(voice) .... Heather, Ozzie's Daughter
Avril Lavigne, Bonez World Tour 2004/2005 (2004) (V) .... Vocals
Sarah McLachlan: Custom Concert (2003) (TV) .... Guest Performer
Hang Time (2003) .... Steph
"Live at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame" (2001) TV Series |
