Siân Greenway has taken a bold new direction with her latest project, Bobbie Dazzle. Embracing the glittering spirit of 1970s glam rock, her new album, Fandabidozi, channels a sparkling energy filled with massive riffs, catchy hooks, and a playful aesthetic that feels both nostalgic and fresh. Siân speaks to Jason Barnard to share how Bobbie Dazzle has allowed her to fully express herself, blending theatrical flair with heartfelt emotion.
After years fronting Alunah, what prompted you to dive into a more glam rock sound with Bobbie Dazzle?
I grew up with glam rock in my household, the pure nostalgia and joy of the genre has stuck with me always, it’s been something I’ve turned to during times I’ve needed to raise my spirits, especially last year. In March 2023 I lost my beautiful sister Coralie to Cancer, during the time she was unwell and through her passing I felt a need to create music but I also needed a juxtaposition of the type of music I was making, it needed to be bright, colourful, happy… I guess I needed a distraction. This distraction turned into a tool to navigate my grief and I found so much joy in creating this record, now it can be a tool for other to use when they need to put a smile on their faces too!
You’ve said Bobbie Dazzle is a part of who you truly are. Can you elaborate on that?
With being in a doom band there’s a huge element of mystique and seriousness that you have to exude with the performance, but I’m not a serious person, I like to be playful, bubbly and wear sparkly catsuits! So really being able to be Bobbie Dazzle is being able to perform as myself, it’s a character I thought I had created where I quickly realised for many years previous that version of myself had been the character all along. This has been a freeing experience.
What inspired the title Fandabidozi, and how does it reflect the music on the album?
So I think when you have a persona as ridiculously name as Bobbie Dazzle you can’t then have an album name that takes itself too seriously. Of course the album behind an homage to 1970s British glam rock I wanted something quintessentially 70s British based and of course the terms Bobby Dazzler and Fandabidozi are staples of that period, they also work together because they mean the same thing! I felt like it was the perfect descriptor for what was inside the record too.
Artists like Bowie, T. Rex, and The Sweet and Suzi Quatro have influenced you. Are there particular albums or songs by these artists that shaped Fandabidozi?
The main album which has my heart completely which was a huge inspiration on my music was Sweet Fanny Adams by The Sweet. Released in 1974 it was a transition period from their softer poppier to a more gritty hard rocking version of glam. I’m a rock n roll chick, I don’t think I could ever shake that off when trying to create something and that album combines my love of Glam and heavy rock in one, the production of it is incredible so I knew that would be the main source of influence as soon as I started Bobbie Dazzle.
Your songs, typified by ‘Magic Of Music’, are celebratory and uplifting. Did you envision the album as a kind of antidote to the current mood?
There’s no denying the intent of the songs of the album, its feel good music to make you do just that.. feel good! I think you’d have to be a real grumpy bastard to listen to this and not have a grin on your face.
What was the process of recording this album like? Did you face any challenges?
Because Bobbie Dazzle is my music and not a collective band, having full control over everything from the writing stage to production was overwhelming but rewarding. I chose musicians from around the Black Country (where I’m from) to record the songs and I had so much trust in them, they all helped make this album what it is with their style of playing, such incredibly talented guys and I’m really lucky to have them because it just made the process so easy. I should probably say I found something difficult, because that’s usually the way it goes, but nothing was stressful, no part of it did I not enjoy and everything just came together and felt right, what a beautiful experience!
In what ways does your flute as heard in ‘Merry-Go-Round’ enhance Bobbie Dazzle’s sound?
I’m a big fan of progressive retro rock, bands like Jethro Tull and Focus. For so long I was told what I could and can’t do in Alunah because as a band you have to compromise constantly and keep a group of people happy, so playing the flute was something I always had to fight for. With Bobbie I’m able to do exactly what I want and I also wanted to throw in those progressive elements, especially with bringing the flute into it. You have bands like Heart where she whips out her flute and it’s just a sprinkling on top, a little something unexpected to add some flavour and excitement to things.
Can you tell us about the inspiration behind the first single, ‘Back to the City’?
‘Back To The City’ is one of those songs that just comes together in the space of 30 minutes, the guitar hook gets laid down, you immediately have a catchy melody hook over the top of it, you lay it down into logic on your laptop in your bedroom and jobs a goodun! I didn’t have any intention of “I must write a song that sounds a specific way” it’s just whatever came out in that glam rock creative world in my head that worked and I think when you write and something just clicks you’re able to roll with it.
Fandabidozi features big riffs and catchy hooks. Which song on the album do you think best represents this blend?
It’s a funny question because when I see other people talking about the album the fan fave is so varied. I think for me personally Merry-Go-Round is that all rounder of that song that is able to smack you in the face with the guitar and have a melody that’s going to get stuck in your head for days, it gets stuck in my own head and I wrote the bloody thing.
How do you think your own musical style and performance have evolved since your early days with Alunah?
It takes years to hone your craft and understand how you want to present yourself to an audience, being that really young girl who didn’t know what she was doing to this woman I am now is night and day. The experience of years of working hard, figuring out what you do and don’t want to do it a process, ultimately if you’re not creating something that doesn’t satisfy you then it’s not worth doing. I’ve worked hard, I’ve discovered things about my own voice I didn’t know I could do back then, I’ve pushed myself outside of my comfort zone and I will continue to do so.
How would you describe your visual aesthetic, and how does it reflect the energy and themes of your music?
When you think of Glam Rock you don’t just think of the music, you think of platform boots, glitter, crazy clothes and that rock star attitude. It’s an aesthetic, a fashion, a visual show as well as a musical journey so I knew hand in hand it had to go together. So people get what the music is going to sound like as soon as they see me and I love that, I’m not sure if I was stood in baggy jeans and a Tshirt it would have quite the same pizazz!
How does humour fit into your music and stage persona?
Within my lyrics I’ve slipped many things into them, double entendres galore! I want people to have that lightbulb moment when they realise what a song is about and then get a good humorous kick from it. It’s cheeky it’s fun and when we’re performing we bring that into the show, we’re dancing, you’re dancing, it’s just a hell of a good time. Life is short, let’s have a laugh!
Looking from the outside, the audience reception has been brilliant. How has it been for you?
I’m the luckiest girl in the world. I did this for myself first and foremost, so I had the mindset of “this is for me, but if anyone wants to come along for the ride they’re more than welcome” The amount of people who’ve hopped on this ride means I’m gonna need a bigger boat! I’ve got to create exactly what I wanted to and so many people love it, I couldn’t ask for more than that. Especially as retro glam rock is a kind of forgotten genre in modern music, it’s been a delight to see how many people of different ages, backgrounds, music tastes have enjoyed this record.
Can you tell me about your forthcoming tour and wider plans for the next six months?
My first short UK tour takes place this month (November) but I’m happy to give the exclusive that I’m working on my second record to be released next year on Rise Above, so within the next 6 months it’s very likely you’ll have a new single from me. I’ll also be doing a run of dates again in the UK in March so I’ll be bringing more new music into my live set for everyone to hear. So the hard work doesn’t stop, but I don’t want it to, this is my joy.
Further information
Fandabidozi on Rise Above Records
