'Fun, bratty' album on the way, says Lavigne

Though Avril Lavigne has most recently been working on film projects, a "fast, fun, young, bratty" new record by the Canadian pop singer is on the way.

The 22-year-old Lavigne shared an upbeat message about her new album due out next April with her fans online on her MySpace webpage this weekend.

"I promise you guys will love this record," the Napanee, Ont.-born singer wrote.

Lavigne said the live performances she did during her last tour helped inspire her to write songs for the new album.

"Because I am a touring artist and spend so much of my time playing live shows, I wanted to make sure the songs were fun. Fun for fans and myself," she wrote.

"I am working on my last song right now in studio," she added.

The first single off the new album a track called Girlfriend is due out in February, according to Lavigne.

After blasting onto the pop music scene in 2002 with Let Go which spawned teen hits like Complicated and Sk8rBoi Lavigne followed up her smash debut with 2004's Under My Skin, which including the chart-topper My Happy Ending.

In the past two years, Lavigne has somewhat toned down her teen wild child image with a more sophisticated look. In addition to co-writing the song Breakaway, which became a hit for former American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson, she began taking roles in movies, including in Fast Food Nation, The Flock and Over the Hedge.

Most recently, Lavigne sang at the closing ceremony of the 2006 Winter Olympics, during the portion representing Canada and the upcoming Vancouver 2010 Olympics, and also wrote and recorded the song Keep Holding On for the new children's fantasy film Eragon.

In July, she also married Deryck Whibley, frontman of Canadian punk-pop band Sum 41.