Avril Lavigne said Thursday she will release a new single, “Head Above Water” on Sept. 19.
"I’m so excited to finally be able to announce the first single off my new album along with its release date,” the Canadian singer wrote in an open letter to fans. “I’m so excited to be returning with new music.”
Lavigne has not released a collection of new music since her self-titled fifth studio album in 2013 and “Head Above Water” is the first new single since the 2015 charity release “Fly.”
The 33-year-old singer said she wrote new songs while living with Lyme Disease, which she blamed for the “worst years of my life.” Lavigne shared: “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.
“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.”
Lavigne said “Head Above Water” is the first song she wrote from her bed. “I had accepted death and could feel my body shutting down,” she recalled.
“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.”
The song’s finishing touches came from Travis Clark and Canadian songwriter-producer Stephan Moccio.
Lavigne has not shared the name of the new album or its release date.
I wrote a letter to my fans on my website. https://t.co/R2PuqcKx0d pic.twitter.com/xbmS0WifO1
— Avril Lavigne (@AvrilLavigne) September 6, 2018