Juno-award winning, multi-platinum selling punk rawk songstress Bif Naked is one of Vancouver’s most visibly and audibly awesome residents. She was kind enough to take some time out of her busy schedule for some total girl-chat time at local haunt Elysian Coffee on a sunny summer morning.
Ever the rebel, the openly engaging Bif swigged lemonade while staying real about the the life that she loves – from music to her four-legged fur children and from meeting her husband at a gym to her own personal experience with cancer – in the city we call home. If you haven't read Part 1, check it out HERE.
Any Vancouver artists you're currently listening to?
I like the BCF and Delhi 2 Dublin. I like Dan Mangan a lot. He's so warm.
It seems like “branding” and image has changed so much during the span of your career...
It's interesting, isn't it?
I would always look at the US industry because of the proximity and say that to make it in the (American) business you have to be a cartoon character. You can't just “be.” Well, sometimes you can. Whether it was Missy Elliott or Amy Lee or Pamela Anderson – everyone had their thing. But there is something very visually identifiable about those people. It was almost exaggerated. People were branding themselves before it became a catchphrase. Before deliberation, per se. Without really knowing it.
Self-branding.
Maybe it's my age or the fact that I am turning into a bitter female, but as a spectator I can't relate to a lot of the theatricality that passes for musical entertainment in contemporary mainstream pop. I am more impressed by someone who can get up there, do their thing and wow me in a turtleneck. Everything else is a little distracting. If you can slay me onstage in a burqa, I'm your biggest fan. That's my barometer.
It's interesting how music is today. I like a lot of the same stuff I always have. And plus I've always liked Indian music so I didn't listen to a lot of contemporary stuff to begin with.
What are the changes you've seen in Vancouver?
So many changes, besides going up! I think architecturally, Vancouver is really beautiful. I think it's well thought out and very modern....
The Nakeds in West Van.
(Opera singing guy walks by outside patio.)
I love him. Usually he's on Granville St.
Obviously, the Woodward's building and that whole area is astounding. We used to hang out at China Creek skateboard park, Clarke and Broadway area. Something even as simple as that park has changed so much since we first moved here. PD's Hot Shop skateboard shop, didn't used to be in its current location on West 4th, it used to be downtown. We used to play in there. The Arts Club on Seymour ... Graceland, the Starfish Room ...
Any favourite venue memories?
The original Cruel Elephant was on Granville and Davie. It was the punk place in Vancouver. We played there for the first Music West in 91 or 92. The big rumour on the street was that Flea was coming to see us. “The Chili Peppers are coming!” We were freaking out. It makes me laugh.
Just like you were mentioning the Aristocratic – I really like that history, especially the musical history because I moved here then and we started cutting our teeth on those level of bars across the country. I miss the original era of punk rock bars that were on Hastings.
There was the Cobalt, for sure.
That wasn't doing punk bands when I was starting out. That was doing just peelers.
There has been such a shift of the music scene. At one point punk was really big in Vancouver. It's crazy different now.
It seems like they have tried to remedy it with more venues being opened, or more places doing music than were two or three years ago. To me it seems like it is reinventing itself in a way. That's probably good. All the arts have to do that in a city that's growing. Vancouver is growing design-wise, it's growing architecturally. New galleries open, new restaurants open and close. New music venues are opening and I think that's good.
Have you been to The Rickshaw?
No.
You need to go the Rickshaw. It's my favourite new venue. It's on Hastings.
I've seen it! It's beautiful.
What are some of your favourite venues that you've played here?.
The Vogue, obviously. I did something there called The Bif Naked Rap Invitational and I invited all these bands like Ragadeath and Mishi Mee and Jellystone. We played a show there that to this day remains one of my favourites ever.
It's such a contrast – it's so elegant and plush – to what you're describing.
It's a testament to the city. You couldn't have that with a lot of punk bands in another city because the audiences would destroy or damage the facility.
And believe it or not, Plaza of Nations. I will always credit CFOX for being one of the first radio stations to ever play my stuff, ever. They were kind enough to ask me to play their Foxfest that they used to have. I played that venue different times, but this one time, besides a concert I played in Nuremberg, Germany – Foxfest I want to say it was around '96? It will always remain one of my favourite shows. It was outdoors, amazing, such a perfect show. Amazing. Both of those shows were here. Opening for No Means No at the Commodore – that was a big deal. We got to open for Fishbone and play with Bad Religion at the Commodore. And then to be able to headline there later ... makes me verklempt, really.
Have you played there since the renovation? How does it compare?
From my perspective, my view – it's amazing. I haven't seen a show there because I am never awake past 9:00 pm.
Bif one-on-one with Canada's boyfriend in 2009.
Part 3 with Bif on Monday!
