Well, what did you expect?” says a bemused Bif Naked, when asked about her new album, “The Promise”. “Of course I made a record! I had planned to release a record in 2009 and it is not in my being to let ANYTHING stop me.

In January 2008, Bif made an announcement that shocked fans and media alike….she was diagnosed with breast cancer and began the fight of her life. Partly because it is in her nature, and partly because it helped keep her focused on the future, Bif began to write and record The Promise - her sixth studio album — while undergoing 13 months of chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

“I was determined to make this new record if it was the last thing I did” says Bif, who is now strong, healthy and inspired. “I wrote songs from my bed. When it was time to record, the studio was moved so it was a block up the street from my condo…all I had to do was to force myself to walk up the hill, with my bald head and in my pajamas — like Quasimodo. The headphones would constantly slip off my shiny head! Some days were good and some days were horrific. Sometimes I couldn’t do a thing, other days I could only sing for an hour, and then crawl home to my bed. We took it day by day.”

“The Promise”, produced and mixed by Jason Darr with Sick, Bluejay & You’ll Never Know mixed by Mike Fraser, is the product of turmoil, perseverance, and joy walking hand in hand, which fueled her to write and record an album that is raw, real, relentless, and 100% Bif Naked. These new songs will give her loyal fans the classic Bif they desire, while attracting a whole new legion of followers. As Bif explains it, “The Promise” is the perfect title for this record. “A promise is made. A promise is kept. It’s one’s word. I made a promise to myself and to my fans. This record is for us.”

Bif Naked fans and those new to the fold will all be incredibly drawn to the passion and sheer force of the CD’s first powerful single, “Sick”. “You make me sick” is a universal expression. “Everyone has something in their lives that makes them angry, sick, or fed-up. Of course chemo made me sick”, says Bif, “but there are a lot of other things going on in this World, like the damage to the environment, hunger and homelessness (especially children), unethical treatment of animals, the refusal of certain governments to provide their citizens with basic Human Rights, and so much more. Most of us feel this way about something, and I hope everyone can relate to the song.”

The first viral single off The Promise, ”Fuck You 2″ has been released online early as a free download – Fuck You 2 is a song, according to Bif “about reacting to heartbreak. Sometimes you get to that point when you mourn a relationship where you are angry enough just to tell that other person to simply fuck off.”

As you would imagine, there are a number of layers to Bif’s new CD, but when asked to think of a common theme, she explains that “this record had a lot of elements referenced, most especially the element of fire, which is weird for me, because it wasn’t intentional. I think that it creates a common theme in a lot of the songs; I think there is a lot rage expressed in this record, but there is also a lot of love.”

Bif’s last CD Superbeautifulmonster was released internationally in 2006; Naked toured after its release for 2 years straight, and her legendary live shows are the result of honing her skills over thousands of tour dates throughout North America, Europe and the United Kingdom. A truly diverse artist, Bif has brought her live show to hundreds of thousands of captivated fans on tours worldwide.

Her previous albums including the self-titled Bif Naked, I Bificus (which was certified Platinum at the beginning of 2009), and Purge, are all noted for their introspective, powerful, and infectious hits that have garnered rave reviews around the world. Her hit single “Spaceman” from I Bificus, made Canadian history with a #1 position on National Charts and #2 position on Billboard’s International Charts making it the highest spun independent song in the history of Canada. Purge was nominated for Rock Album of the Year at the 2001 Juno Awards.

From her remarkable beginnings in an orphanage in India to her battle against breast cancer, Bif Naked has consistently defied the odds, and continues to do so. While recording this record has been an empowering and powerful experience for her, Bif admits that she is most excited to hit the road with these new songs. “I’m going back to tour because it is what I love to do. Performing is my passion. I owe it to myself and to my fans to keep evolving and to keep challenging myself and I just can’t wait to rock.”