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. [2] The album was not released and a promotional single, entitled "Addicted," from the album was cancelled following a lack of TV and radio airplay. [3]

Strum's 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 . [4] In 2023, Warner released 10 of the songs as an album titled Addicted on streaming media. [5]

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. [6] The album, Cocoon, originally scheduled for release on 10 October 2005 [1] , was postponed when the single failed to reach the top 40, and a second single was announced, "It Could Be You," co-written by Billy Steinberg, to be released on 13 March 2006 with the album following. [7]

The release of "It Could Be You" was cancelled, when it was announced that another song, "Go My Own Way," was to be featured as the theme song to ITV drama series Vital Signs , starring Tamsin Outhwaite. [8] This also failed to chart, despite being released digitally on 22 April 2006. [9]

The release of Cocoon was cancelled, and Strum was later dropped by Universal Music. The album was eventually released by Double J Records in 2023. [10]

Bo Pepper and songwriting

Strum was the songwriter, and one of the voices, in the UK indie group Bo Pepper. [11] 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. [12]

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 . [13]

In 2011 and 2012, Strum toured the UK playing Eva Cassidy's sister, Margaret, in the musical Over The Rainbow – The Eva Cassidy Story. [14] She next starred in an online drama series created for smartphones titled Persona. [13] 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". [15]

In 2018, Strum wrote an autobiography, The Time I Almost.... A documentary based on it was in development. [16]

In 2023, Strum discovered that she owned the masters to her second album, Cocoon, and began uploading songs from the album to Spotify. [5] 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

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Templeton, Tom (31 July 2005). "Introducing...Alexis Strum". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  2. ↑ "Xenomania Artists - Alexis Strum". Xenomania. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  3. ↑ 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.
  4. ↑ {{cite news |last=Glanvill |first Natalie |date=17 June 2015 |title=Kylie Minogue songwriter to stage 'Homeland meets Loose Women' play |url=https://www.guardian-series.co.uk/news/13337233.kylie-minogue-songwriter-stage-homeland-meets-loose-women-play/ |access-date=27 December 2024 |publisher=Guardian Series}
  5. 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.
  6. ↑ @alexisstrum (April 18, 2023). "The pop video when Lucifer was my 'boyfriend'..." (Tweet). Retrieved 27 December 2024– via Twitter.
  7. ↑ "Alexis Strum Official Website - News 27 January 2006". Alexis Strum Official. 27 January 2006. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  8. ↑ "Record of the Day: Alexis Strum - Go My Own Way". Record of the Day, part of Music Today Ltd. 18 May 2006. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  9. ↑ "Alexis Strum Official Website - News 22 April 2006". Alexis Strum Official. 22 April 2006. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  10. ↑ "Proper Music - Cocoon". Proper Music. 1 August 2023. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  11. ↑ @alexisstrum (May 23, 2023). "If you want another uplifting tale of tenacity, strap in, as today we also celebrate the 15th Anniversary of me becoming a sock puppet called Bo Pepper ..." (Tweet). Retrieved 27 December 2024– via Twitter.
  12. ↑ Lester, Paul (8 April 2008). "New Band of the Week - No 302 Bo Pepper". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  13. 1 2 Krieger, Candice (3 March 2011). "Alexis Strum lands a starring role at your fingertips". The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  14. ↑ "Over the Rainbow: The Eva Cassidy Story (tour – Worthing, Pavilion Theatre)". What's On Stage. 18 February 2012. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  15. ↑ Glanvill, Natalie (17 June 2015). "Kylie Minogue Songwriter to stage Homeland meets Loose Women play". Guardian Series. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  16. ↑ "Comic documentary about failure in development". British Comedy Guide. 15 October 2018. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
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