Avril Lavigne 'didn't hold back on new LP'

Avril Lavigne has revealed that her new LP Goodbye Lullaby details the highs and lows of her personal life since splitting from ex-husband Derek Whibley.

In an interview with Access Hollywood, the 'What The Hell' singer claimed that she felt freer writing songs for her fourth studio album.

"I challenged myself and told myself to not hold back with the songwriting," she said.

The musician continued: "Sometimes you can think, 'What are people going to ask me about this song? What does that mean?' But for me, I just allowed myself to kind of go there and to be really real."

Lavigne, who has notched five US top ten hits, also revealed that her close friends and family were surprised by the candour in Goodbye Lullaby's lyrics.

"The reaction from my friends, people I work with, my family, anyone who's heard the songs - [they] cried," the star added. "It's like, 'Wow.' When you really go there and have those moments that mean that much and are that real, other people connect with that. I'm glad I went for those moments on this album."

Earlier this week, Lavigne described her latest release as "a more emotional, more raw record".