Avril Lavigne Announces New Single “Head Above Water”

Mike Wass | September 6, 2018 1:32 pm
Flashback: Avril Lavigne's 'Smile'
The Canadian superstar really should have topped the charts with 'Smile.'

Finally! After years (I’m not exaggerating) of cryptic updates, Avril Lavigne has announced the lead single from her long-awaited 6th album. “Head About Water” drops September 19 and chronicles her struggle with a life-threatening illness. “Five years have gone by since I released my last album,” the pop/rocker wrote in a letter to fans. “I spent the last few years at home sick fighting Lyme Disease. Those were the worst years of my life as I went through both physical and emotional battles. I was able to turn that fight into music I’m really proud of.”

“I wrote songs in my bed and on the couch and recorded there mostly as well,” she continued. “Words and lyrics that were so true to my experience came pouring out of me effortlessly. Truly… by keeping my spirits up, having goals to reach and a purpose to live for, my music helped to heal me and keep me alive.” Avril then thanked fans for their patience and opened up about her new single. “The first song I am choosing to release is called ‘Head Above Water.’ It is also the first song I wrote from my bed during one of the scariest moments of my life.”

“I had accepted death and could feel my body shutting down,” the 33-year-old revealed. “I felt like I was drowning. Like I was going under water and I just needed to come up for air. Like I was in a river being pulled in a current. Unable to breathe. Praying to God for Him to help me just keep my head above the water. To help me see through the stormy weather. I grew closer to Him. My mother held me. In her arms, I wrote the first song that I am releasing to tell my story.” Avril then confirmed that this will be her most personal offering to date.

“I have decided to be truthful about my struggle, open and more vulnerable than ever before,” she wrote. “And to be honest, part of me doesn’t want to talk about being sick because I want it to all be behind me, but I know I have to. Because not only is it a part of my life, I need to bring awareness to the severity of Lyme Disease. A single bug bite can fuck you up hard.” Read Avril’s full letter and find out more about her foundation here. Check out the cover art for “Head Above Water” below.

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