Poetry, Tattoos and Poodles

With her self-titled debut, which contains the club hits �Daddy�s Getting Married" and �My Whole Life", Bif reached already a far spread audience. 3 years later, with a new record, a new record company and a more compact name the Canadian by choice strikes back. The fact, that the new record �I Bificus" is released under the name of �Bif" deserves an explanation.

�For 11 years, my punk rock name was �Bif Naked", someday I got fed up, that people always sort of focused on �Naked" and were waiting during each show for me to take my clothes off. (Guys!). My request is, that people show up because of my music."

Going to a concert of Bif is a worthwhile investment of time and money. She has conquered already a lot of hearts during her supporting act of Life of Agony. The permanent touring held a positive side effect for Bif, though.

�Since 2 years I live without drugs. I really don�t know how I managed touring with all that dope", the Indian born, who keeps herself into shape with bodybuilding and a women-martial arts group."

With �I Bificus" her second record is released, that even tops the style hotch potch of her debut. The musical progress is audible, and Bif has gotten a bit further into the calmer waters of Pop.

�The two records sound so differently, because the first one was an indie-production and had to be done in 3 days. Except that, I try to grow with my music and improve my song writing gradually. With 23 the first record was made, this June I turn 28 and I am a full grown woman now. (giggles) Lots has changed, I have changed and my views, perspectives...."

A big change meant her success. The new record will certainly find its way to the fans. But, according to Bif, it is not a piece of cake to endure as an artist.

�As a solo-artist you live like an orphan and you have to hire your musicians from other bands. Randy from Annihilator plays the drums, I work on a regular basis together with him, the guy on the bass and the keyboarder are from Econoline Crush and are also a solid part of my band. X-Factor, my first guitar player, lives in New York, me in Vancouver, so it is pointless to continue working with him. A result of our work is the song �Chotee" on �I Bificus".

A constant changing musicians line up is certainly not very helpful for the work.

�The band line up is stable now. Only on tours the guitarist has to be replaced sometimes. I would have to pay the musicians, even if we are not touring, to have them available all the time. But hey, I am not Gloria Estefan."

Bif certainly has to look after her money, but she takes music business easy.

�As long as I get a bowl of rice a day, and I can feed my dog, I don�t care about anything else than music."

Modest words for a woman, who doesn�t only know the bright side of life. Shortly after her birth in India, Bif became an orphan. Adopted by a missionary couple, she immigrated into the U.S., lived for some time in Kentucky, then in Manitoba and finally, she made it to Vancouver. Her childhood and youth didn�t go so smoothly, as one might guess. Bif�s lyrics have mainly a biographic character. The ones of the first record are pretty dark and reflect a certain amount of hopelessness. But self pity is an unknown word to Bif.

�I can�t claim to have had an unhappy youth, because I went thru good and bad times, like everybody else does. My experiences are no doubt not worse than the ones of another."

With her 27 years, her uncomplicated behavior and her fine sense of humor Bif is a lot of fun to talk to and an exceptional appearance, as far as her looks are concerned.

�If it weren�t for the tattoos, I would be a complete square. As a teenager I was a true rebel, but, who except a square would get up at 6 o�clock and go to bed at ten P.M.? Each tattoo has its own history, reflects a single era. When I studied I had the dragon on my arm done, a symbol for wisdom. The lotus flower is symbolic for eternal life and the buddha shows my interest in Buddhism. I don�t have any anarchy signs or skulls, that�s why I am square. Tattoos are very square, after all."

Bif smiles during the last sentences. Her eloquence was also proved by a release:

�I did release a spoken word record in Canada. In Europe, spoken word records are not that common, books seem to be more popular."

Must be the intellectual crowd :-)

�On the record are poems, stories of my childhood and a lot of talking about guys. I talk and talk and talk, over one hour. Each poem, story...has its own track, so the audience can listen again and again to their favorite track and for my part, they can put it on their answering machine."

Christan Dännart