Alexis Strum

Last updated
Alexis Strum
BornChingford, Essex
GenresPop
Years active2002–present
LabelsDouble J Records (2023)
Mercury Records (2005–2007)
Warner Music Group (2002–2003)
Website Official website

Alexis Strum is an English songwriter, singer, actress, and writer.

Contents

Biography

Early life

Strum was born and brought up in an Orthodox Jewish family in Chingford, Essex. [1] Aged 6, she began writing songs. [1]

Strum formed local bands, performing Elastica and L7 covers, before experimenting with computer-aided production to emulate the sound of a full live band on her own.[ citation needed ] She studied English at King's College London, gaining a degree in English Literature.[ citation needed ] Whilst there she was Music Editor of the university newspaper, Roar, interviewed bands and wrote a fashion and beauty column for the now defunct Insync magazine.[ citation needed ]

After graduating and working odd jobs around London for a few years, she signed a publishing deal with Mike Sault at Warner Chappell.[ citation needed ] She sang on tracks by Thrillseekers, Lange, York (where she was credited as 'Alaska' on the German single, "Yesterday (Silence)") and Ed Case until in 2002; she then signed her first solo record contract.[ citation needed ]

Warner and Universal

In 2002, Strum recorded an album for Warner Records, with producers such as Xenomania.[ citation needed ] The album was not released and a promotional single from the album was cancelled following lack of interest. [2] However, the publishers shopped the songs around; "Still Standing" was recorded by Kylie Minogue for her 2003 album, Body Language and "Nothing Good about This Goodbye" was recorded by Rachel Stevens for her 2005 album, Come and Get It .[ citation needed ] In 2023, Warner released 10 of the songs as an album titled Addicted on streaming media. [3]

Strum signed a deal with Universal Music in 2005, following a spot at the V Festival, and released a debut single, "Bad Haircut". [1] The video for "Bad Haircut" video features actor Tom Ellis.[ citation needed ] Another song, "Go My Own Way," was featured as the theme song to ITV drama series Vital Signs , starring Tamsin Outhwaite.[ citation needed ] The album, Cocoon, was cancelled, and Strum was later dropped by Universal Music. In 2023, the album was released by Double J Records. [4]

Bo Pepper and songwriting

Strum was the songwriter, and one of the voices, in the UK indie group Bo Pepper.[ citation needed ] Their first single, "Blinkandyou'llmissit!", was self-released in 2008 on Peppered Records, and they were named "New Band of the Week" by The Guardian in April 2008. [5]

Strum continued to write songs including "Why Not Us" for the German pop group Monrose (2008).[ citation needed ] In 2010, her song, "Got a Grip On Me", was featured in the UK Channel 4 comedy, The Inbetweeners . [6]

In 2011 and 2012, Strum toured the UK playing Eva Cassidy's sister, Margaret, in the musical Over The Rainbow – The Eva Cassidy Story. [7] She next starred in an online drama series created for smartphones titled Persona. [6] In 2015, Strum wrote, produced and staged a play titled "Always the Bride" at the New Wimbledon Studio Theatre, about a group of suburban women who all suffer from "post wedding-day comedown and meet in private to wear their wedding dresses to re-live their big day". [8]

In 2018, Strum wrote an autobiography, The Time I Almost.... A documentary based on it was in development. [9]

In 2023, Strum discovered that she owned the masters to her second album, Cocoon, and began uploading songs from the album to Spotify. [3] The interest led to Double J Records to acquire the right to release the album.[ citation needed ] Separately, Warner Music agreed to upload ten tracks that were recorded for Addicted to form a version of her debut album, and released it on 1 September 2023.[ citation needed ]

Discography

Albums

Singles

Songwriting credits

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kylie Minogue</span> Australian singer and actress (born 1968)

Kylie Ann Minogue is an Australian singer, songwriter, and actress. Referred to as the "Princess of Pop", she has been recognised in music and fashion as a style icon. Her accolades include two Grammy Awards, four Brit Awards and eighteen ARIA Music Awards. She is the highest-selling female recording artist from Australia, having sold over 80 million records worldwide. In 2024, Time named her one of the most influential people in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Turn It into Love</span> 1988 single by Kylie Minogue

"Turn It into Love" is a single released by Australian singer Kylie Minogue. It was taken from her debut studio album Kylie (1988). The single was released in December 1988 in Japan only. The B-side was a new song "Made in Heaven", which also served as the B-side to both "Je ne sais pas pourquoi" and "It's No Secret" in other international territories.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Confide in Me</span> 1994 single by Kylie Minogue

"Confide in Me" is a song by Australian singer Kylie Minogue from her self-titled fifth studio album (1994). It was released as the album's lead single on 29 August 1994 by Deconstruction, Imago, and Mushroom Records. The track was written by Steve Anderson, Dave Seaman, and Owain Barton, whilst production was handled by British trio Brothers in Rhythm. It was recorded in London, United Kingdom at DMC and Sarm West Studios. Musically, it is a pop song that incorporates elements of indie music, dance-pop, and Middle Eastern instrumentation such as strings and percussion, whilst the lyrical content talks about Minogue's earnest of seduction and manipulating people to confide into her.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Some Kind of Bliss</span> 1997 single by Kylie Minogue

"Some Kind of Bliss" is a song by Australian recording artist Kylie Minogue, for her sixth studio album, Impossible Princess (1997). The song was released as the lead single from the album on 8 September 1997 through BMG, Deconstruction and Mushroom. Minogue co-wrote the track with James Dean Bradfield and Sean Moore while Bradfield and Dave Eringa produced it. Backed by guitar and drum instruments, "Some Kind of Bliss" is a Britpop track in which Minogue sings about feeling happy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Better the Devil You Know</span> 1990 single by Kylie Minogue

"Better the Devil You Know" is a song by Australian singer-songwriter Kylie Minogue, taken from her third studio album Rhythm of Love (1990). The song was written and produced by Stock Aitken Waterman and was released as the album's lead single on 30 April 1990 by PWL and Mushroom Records. "Better the Devil You Know" is known as the song that re-invented Minogue with more sex appeal, as her previous albums were presented with her "girl next door" persona. Her music onwards presented a more independent approach.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cowboy Style</span> 1998 single by Kylie Minogue

"Cowboy Style" is a song recorded by Australian singer and songwriter Kylie Minogue, for her sixth studio album Impossible Princess (1997). The song was released as the fourth and final single in Australia only on 5 October 1998 through Mushroom Records. Minogue wrote the track with Steve Anderson and Dave Seaman while Brothers in Rhythm produced it. Backed by guitars, synthesisers and drum instruments, "Cowboy Style" is a Celtic pop track in which Minogue sings about her relationship with her then-boyfriend, French director Stephane Sednaoui. Critical response to "Cowboy Style" was positive, with praise driven to Minogue's songwriting and the song's composition; some critics highlighted it as a career stand-out track. Released in Australia and New Zealand, the song charted at number 39 on the Australian Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Step Back in Time</span> 1990 single by Kylie Minogue

"Step Back in Time" is a song by Australian singer Kylie Minogue from her third studio album, Rhythm of Love (1990). It was released as the album's second single on 22 October 1990, and distributed by PWL and Mushroom as a CD single, cassette tape and 12-inch and 7-inch singles. The track was written, arranged, and produced by Mike Stock, Matt Aitken, Pete Waterman, who are collectively known as Stock Aitken and Waterman, and was recorded in London, United Kingdom. Musically, it is a disco song that lyrically pays tribute to 1970s' culture.

<i>Neon Nights</i> 2003 studio album by Dannii Minogue

Neon Nights is the fourth studio album by Australian singer Dannii Minogue. It was released through London Records on 17 March 2003. Spurred by her success with the 2001 single "Who Do You Love Now?", Minogue signed a new record contract and began working on her first album in six years with the likes of Ian Masterson, Korpi & Blackcell, Neïmo and Terry Ronald.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">What Do I Have to Do</span> 1991 single by Kylie Minogue

"What Do I Have to Do" is a song performed by Australian singer-songwriter Kylie Minogue from her third studio album, Rhythm of Love (1990). The song was written and produced by Stock, Aitken & Waterman. Originally, the song was planned to be released after the single "Better the Devil You Know", but instead "Step Back in Time" was released and this was released as the third single on 21 January 1991 by PWL and Mushroom. The song received positive reviews from most music critics, who thought the song was an instant rave classic. Its music video was directed by Dave Hogan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shocked (song)</span> 1991 single by Kylie Minogue

"Shocked" is a song by Australian singer Kylie Minogue from her third studio album, Rhythm of Love (1990). Written and produced by Stock Aitken and Waterman, "Shocked" was released as the album's fourth and final single in May 1991 by Mushroom and PWL. The song later appeared on most of Minogue's major compilations including Greatest Hits (1992), Ultimate Kylie (2004) and Step Back In Time: The Definitive Collection (2019). The DNA 7-inch mix of the song also includes a rap in the bridge by Jazzi P.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All I See</span> 2008 single by Kylie Minogue

"All I See" is a song recorded by Australian Kylie Minogue for her tenth studio album X (2007). It was written by Jonas Jeberg, Mich Hedin Hansen, Edwin "Lil' Eddie" Serrano, and produced by Jeberg and Cutfather. An R&B track, the song contains an interpolation from The Gap Band's "Outstanding". "All I See" was released as the fourth single from X on 11 March 2008, by Parlophone. A remix featuring rapper Mims was serviced to US radio stations and included as a bonus track on the North American edition of X.

"Two Hearts", alternatively titled "2 Hearts", is a song first recorded by British electronic duo Kish Mauve, written for their 2005 self-titled extended play and later re-recorded by Australian singer Kylie Minogue for her tenth studio album, X (2007). Both versions were written and produced by Jim Eliot and Mima Stilwell. Minogue's version was released on 9 November 2007 by Parlophone as the album's lead single. The song was Minogue's first commercial single since "Giving You Up" (2005), as she was diagnosed with breast cancer in May 2005. After the announcement, Minogue took a hiatus between of two years to recover from her illness.

<i>X</i> (Kylie Minogue album) 2007 studio album by Kylie Minogue

X is the tenth studio album by Australian singer Kylie Minogue. EMI Music Japan released it first in Japan on 21 November 2007, before its release in Australia by Warner Music Australia two days later. The album was released in the United Kingdom by Parlophone on 26 November 2007, and in the United States by Capitol and Astralwerks on 1 April 2008. Work on the album began in July 2006, following Minogue's gradual recovery from breast cancer. After finishing Showgirl: The Homecoming Tour in early 2007, she returned to the studio to complete the album, with the help from many producers including Bloodshy & Avant, Calvin Harris, Greg Kurstin, and Freemasons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The One (Kylie Minogue song)</span> 2008 single by Kylie Minogue

"The One" is a song recorded by Australian singer Kylie Minogue for her tenth studio album X (2007). It was written by Minogue, Richard Stannard, James Wiltshire, Russell Small, John Andersson, Johan Emmoth and Emma Holmgren, while production was handled by Stannard and Freemasons. The song was released as the fifth and final single from X on 28 July 2008, by Parlophone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Skirt (song)</span> 2013 promotional single by Kylie Minogue

"Skirt" is a 2013 song recorded by Australian singer Kylie Minogue. She co-wrote the song with Chris Elliot, Chris Lake, and The-Dream, while Elliot and Marco Lys produced it. "Skirt" samples "Shake & Bake", a composition by Elliot and DJ Bones. The track premiered on Elliot's SoundCloud account on 28 May 2013—Minogue's 45th birthday—before it was released as a stand-alone promotional single on 24 June. The distribution of the single, both physically and digitally as a remix EP, was handled by Rising Music, an independent record label established by Lake.

"Speakerphone" is a song by Australian singer Kylie Minogue for her tenth studio album X (2007). It was produced by Bloodshy & Avant duo Christian Karlsson and Pontus Winnberg, who co-wrote it with Henrik Jonback and Klas Åhlund. The song featured dance, electronic, and funk elements. It heavily used Auto-Tune and vocoder, which caused some critics to liken it to music by Britney Spears and Daft Punk. "Speakerphone" received mixed responses from critics. The song appeared on the Canadian Hot 100 and the Hot Canadian Digital Singles Billboard charts.

<i>Kiss Me Once</i> 2014 studio album by Kylie Minogue

Kiss Me Once is the twelfth studio album by Australian singer Kylie Minogue. It was released on 14 March 2014 by Parlophone, her first musical effort since her 2010 release Aphrodite. After celebrating her 25th career anniversary, Minogue signed with the American agency Roc Nation, which is managed by American rapper and entrepreneur Jay-Z. Intending to create a different musical experience, Minogue and her agency enlisted a variety of producers and collaborators, including musicians Sia, MNEK, Pharrell Williams, and Tom Aspaul.

<i>Kylie and Garibay</i> (EP) 2015 EP by Kylie and Garibay

Kylie and Garibay is the second extended play (EP) by musical duo Kylie and Garibay. Following Kylie Minogue's departure from her management company, Roc Nation, the three-track EP was released as a surprise on 11 September 2015 by Parlophone and her own production company, Kimberly Limited. Solely produced by Fernando Garibay, the EP served as an extension of the duo's first collaboration, Sleepwalker (2014). Initiated in September 2014, the recording process enlisted Giorgio Moroder, Sam Sparro, and Shaggy as co-writers and feature vocalists.

<i>Kylie Christmas</i> 2015 studio album by Kylie Minogue

Kylie Christmas is the thirteenth studio album, and first Christmas album, by Australian singer Kylie Minogue. It was released on 13 November 2015 by Parlophone. Following the release of her twelfth studio album, Kiss Me Once, Minogue announced her departure from Parlophone, and her management deal with American label, Roc Nation. Minogue signed an exclusive one-album deal with Parlophone to release Kylie Christmas, with distribution through Warner Music Group worldwide and Warner Bros. Records in the United States. A Christmas music album consisting of thirteen songs and three bonus tracks, Kylie Christmas contains both cover versions and original songs.

<i>Disco</i> (Kylie Minogue album) 2020 studio album by Kylie Minogue

Disco is the fifteenth studio album by Australian singer Kylie Minogue. BMG Rights Management and Minogue's company Darenote released it on 6 November 2020 in both digital and physical formats. After finishing her campaign with her previous album Golden (2018), Minogue was inspired by a Studio 54-esque section on her Golden Tour to create a disco-themed album. Early sessions began in 2019-2020, but were temporarily halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic and widespread lockdowns. As a result, Minogue continued to work on the album remotely from London, using GarageBand and Logic Pro for the first time.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Templeton, Tom (31 July 2005). "Introducing...Alexis Strum". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  2. ↑ Scott, Danni (5 October 2023). "A mix-up over ice cream on Lorraine cost me my music career 20 years ago – but now I'm back". The Metro. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
  3. 1 2 Strum, Alexis (23 July 2023). "I'm finally the pop star I dreamed of becoming – and I'm in my forties". The Independent. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  4. ↑ "Proper Music - Cocoon". Proper Music. 1 August 2023. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  5. ↑ Lester, Paul (8 April 2008). "New Band of the Week - No 302 Bo Pepper". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  6. 1 2 Krieger, Candice (3 March 2011). "Alexis Strum lands a starring role at your fingertips". The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  7. ↑ "Over the Rainbow: The Eva Cassidy Story (tour – Worthing, Pavilion Theatre)". What's On Stage. 18 February 2012. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  8. ↑ Glanvill, Natalie (17 June 2015). "Kylie Minogue Songwriter to stage Homeland meets Loose Women play". Guardian Series. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  9. ↑ "Comic documentary about failure in development". British Comedy Guide. 15 October 2018. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.