Story Archive October 3, 2003 (Page 1 of 2)

This is very exclusive coverage - as far I know the images have never ever been released publicly in this quality before. The images get newer the further you scroll down, and you will start to recognize avril more and more the way we know her today.

Quinte Spirit Festival 1998

First CD with an studio recording by Avril (front)

First CD with an studio recording by Avril (back)

First CD Photo-Shoot

Second CD Photo-Shoot (yes, she did the country and folk thing!)

Second CD Photo-Shoot

First time ever in a recording studion (1999)

Studio 2000

Here is a clipping of something I wrote earlier this morning about some of her earlier stuff before she was widely known. It is not complete and really just very very short compared to all the stuff that I could have put in there.

The three tracks "Touch The Sky", "Two Rivers", and "Temple of Life" are from the days when she wasn't that well known.

"Touch the Sky" was recorded in 1999 with the local folk singer Steve Medd and the others were recorded in 2000.

Track Listing of the 1999 CD "Quinte Spirit":

1. The Nessie (4:22)
2. Touch the Sky (3:12)
3. The Last Leaf (3:15)
4. World to Me (4:11)
5. Cherry Valley (4:00)
6. Underneath the Maples (3:57)
7. The Quinte Spirit (4:09)

- of course only the "Touch the Sky" track is by Avril. The recording session for this CD was Avrils first day in a recording studio. She was decsribed as very confident and to quote Steve Medd: "... I realized that after one take this 14 year-old gal had a special talent and a great ability to interpret the new song I had written for her. I believe it helped her confidence immensely and inspired her since she said to me and her Dad afterwards that it was one of the most memorable moments of her life ..."

She actually also sang at the 1998 and 1999 Quinte Spirit festivals.

I'll put some pictues of that up later today at http://www.avrilfuckingrules.tk

Now to "Two Rivers" and "Temple of Life" - it was recorded on the "My Window to You" CD which was a tribute CD to A Pauline Johnson (2000) one of Canada's most enduring and endearing poets.

The track listing of that CD is:

1. Where We Begin (3:17)
2. Temple of Life (4:26)
3. The Songster (3:01)
4. The Song My Paddle Sings (3:55)
5. Two Rivers (Tekahionwake) (3:02)
6. The Skater (2:57)
7. My Little Girl (2:35)
8. Your Mirror Frame (3:17)
9. My Window to You (2:39)
10.The Last Leaf (3:15)
11.Goodbye (2:24)

Avrils tracks are only "Two Rivers" and "Temple of Life". It would be really interesting to hear "The Skater" - huh? That should have been her song.

Now we will go on to the "Why" story:

After Cliff Fabri had discovered her (1999) at the Kingston Chapters Bookstore, singing karaoke country covers he recognized her talent. He put a video tape of her performing together which was recorded in her parents' basement and send it to the industry. Former Universal Music Canada executive Brian Hetherman liked Avril and traveled to Napanee in the Summer of 2000 to meet with her and her parents. She also performed some songs for him in the basement. He liked her and send her some Blink 182 and Metthew Good Band CDs to get her to listen to some other music. Then Nettwerk Records vice president Mark Jowett also came along and was intrigued by her talent. He wanted her to find a direction in her music and sent her to New York to meet with Peter Zizzo (who also had done work for Jennifer Lopez and Céline Dion). Peter Zizzo wanted to get her started on one of his compositions, but Fabri pressed for her to write her own songs. That what came out was "Why?". She proved that she could write her own songs, her parents confidence soared and the would never ever let anyone write the songs for her anymore (but still let others co-write, which is another stroy).