The Runners Sessions?

The Alex Da Kidd material was rockier, right? I guess "Candy" came out of those sessions.

I don't remember much about the The Runners sessions, it was probably the most mysterious time in her career life for me (along with what we're living now) but I do remember this photo, and the hip hop discussions around 2012.

The hip-hop thing was said by Alex Da Kid in an interview:



The Runners never said publicly what kind of music they were working on with Avril, but only what BogoGog24 said. If some people said those songs were hip-hop or something, they probably said it based on the kind of music The Runners have worked on normally, which had been hip-hop until then (and later as well, if I'm not wrong), or confusing it with what Alex Da Kid said.

Those were mainly made while she was still dating Brody, and perhaps she was going to include a few before she went to France in 2012 and she likely scrapped them and more "Tripod" songs were made (after those she could have made in March '12 before her trip). And after that, a lot of Tripod songs were scrapped to make room for "hitmaker" songs.

Both Alex and Runners songs have to be one of the more mysterious collaborations she's done. Not only because, based on those producers' stuff, they were out of her "comfort zone" (not so pop-rock, more hip-hop), but also because we've never really known much about those and Avril has barely spoke about them years after.

After a quick look at Wikipedia she did apparently mention the Alex da Kidd material after or around the release of GL, saying she wanted to "do something" with those songs but wasn't sure what yet. I assume that went out of the window though as soon as she transferred to Epic and I'm sure that RCA owns the rights to those songs. There were also rumors she had worked with Pharrell Williams.

I believe that once she transferred to Epic that was when she worked with the Runners as well as Bonnie McKee in late 2011/early 2012. In early 2012 she worked with Chad and David. So the Runners and Bonnie stuff was done under Epic and I can't imagine their stuff wasn't a thousand times better than Martin Johnson. I don't know why none of those songs couldn't be used if they wanted "pop hits." At this point now that she is without a label or possibly going to another one she doesn't own the rights to those songs either.

One of the biggest mysteries of Avril's career to date.

Avril began working on album number five way back in November 2011 (this was during her short break before finishing the North American part of The Black Star Tour).
She was passionate about making new music and eager to get new music out to fans ASAP to make up after the huge break between The Best Damn Thing & Goodbye Lullaby.
I am also pretty sure she had just signed with LA Reid (Epic) at this point.

The Runners worked together with Avril for a good few months between November 2011 - March 2012, they actually had made a full album together that was fully completed by March 2012. (Check old tweets).

Why this Album with The Runners was scrapped... who knows? But Avril never mentioned working with The Runners again nor did The Runners mention Avril again.

Some research tweets for anyone interested...


Slightly off topic...

>Then Avril began to work with Chad and David for about 5 months, then tweeted having had "Finished the album" (with Chad & David) and that "I'm away to relax before my next artistical journey begins..." (This is when Avril went to Paris).

>Then a few months later, Avril was back in the studio last couple of months of 2012/beginning of 2013 (Epic definitely wanted more pop stuff) cause then Martin Johnson & Jacob Kasher were brought in.

I truly believe once Avril began working with David and Chad she was going for a more mature sounding album (Remember Album artwork is shot months before the album is complete - and the artwork doesn't fit the majority of songs on her album, it was definitely gonna be an album of Sophisticated indie rock songs) then Avril's initial concept was ruined with Martin Johson/Jkash - HK, BS, SOS, HTNGU, RNR, etc.

There are so many mysteries surrounding the last era. It's also really sad that we know Avril has made a ton of songs that will probably never see the light of day (the ones with Alex Da Kid, Skylar Grey, The Runners etc.) I have a feeling these songs would have been really well produced too.


Avril should write a book one day about her career in the music industry. She's had to deal with so much stuff behind the scenes, it would be interesting to here the truths behind some of the mysteries surrounding the last two eras.

Remember the letter she wrote before GL came out... "I know you guys have been waiting for a long time ... and so have I, but not by choice. I have been sitting with this record for a year now... But for the first time I experienced a bunch of bureaucratic BS. People do their best work when they are doing what they want, love and is natural for them, not when you are forcing them to be something that they are not."

Hopefully Avril will be able to do her own thing in this sixth era. They should stop interfering with her artistic direction.