Doing it for herself

As one-fifth of reality TV-produced girl group Bardot, Tiffani Wood shot to prominence in 2000 on the back of pure bubblegum pop.

These days, she’s more willing to use music to push the envelope -“ especially when it comes to sexuality.

The 28-year-old’s first solo album Bite Your Tongue, due for release later in the year, will include her version of the Divinyls’ iconic tribute to self-love, I Touch Myself.

I just really loved the song as it is. I love that it’s a bold statement about sexuality, Wood says.

Whoever it is who’s singing it has to be comfortable with that and I definitely am and have been since I can remember.

The song is only one of the statements Wood has been making about sexuality of late. The Newcastle-raised singer made her Mardi Gras parade debut this year on the colourful Celebrities and Friends of Lesbians and Gays float.

One of my best friends is gay. He lives with me and I’ve been friends with him for about six years now, Wood says of her decision to march.

I have seen, just being around him, that there are still people in the community who don’t respect the gay community and they look upon it as something that’s not right.

Wood rates performing in Bardot’s James Bond-inspired show at the 2002 Mardi Gras party just as highly.

My favourite performance I’ve done in my entire career is Mardi Gras, she says. It was like a dream come true performing in that sort of crowd, and ever since I’ve been like, -˜Get me back into the gay community, get me performing,’ because they just go off.

Wood will have the chance to meet more gay fans as she promotes Bite Your Tongue‘s pop-rock second single Spin The Bottle, which is released in April. She released the first single Devil In Your Soul last year.

Fours year since Bardot disbanded, Wood says she’s enjoying the creative freedom of her own record label, but misses the financial security of an established music company.

I just felt that I needed to be in control more after doing the Bardot thing, she says.

It is frustrating at times. I really am like, -˜I just wish I had the money to be able to do what I really want to do’. At the moment it is a bit of a struggle but the rewards become greater because of it.

Spin The Bottle is released on 3 April. Bite Your Tongue is due out later in the year.