{{short description|English singer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2025}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Alexis Strum | birth_name = | alias = | birth_place = Chingford, London | origin = | death_date = <!-- {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD|df=y}} (death date first) --> | death_place = | genre = Pop | years_active = 2002–present | label = Back on Wax (2026)<br>Absolute Label Services (2025–present)<br />Double J Music (2023–2024)<br>Mercury Records (2005–2006)<br /> Warner Bros. Records (2002–2003)| website ={{url|alexisstrum.com}} }}
'''Alexis Strum''' is an English songwriter, singer, actress, and writer.
== Biography ==
===Early life=== Strum was born and brought up in an Orthodox Jewish family in Chingford, Essex.<ref name="auto2">{{cite news |last=Templeton |first=Tom |date=31 July 2005 |title=Introducing...Alexis Strum |url=https://www.theguardian.com/theobserver/2005/jul/31/features.magazine37 |access-date=2 September 2023 |work=The Guardian}}</ref> Aged 6, she began writing songs.<ref name="auto2"/>
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|date=August 2024}} She studied English at King's College London, gaining a degree in English Literature.{{Citation needed|date=August 2024}} 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|date=August 2024}}
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|date=August 2024}} 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|date=August 2024}}
===Warner and Universal=== In 2002, Strum recorded an album for Warner Music, with producers such as Xenomania.<ref>{{cite web|title=Xenomania Artists – Alexis Strum|url=http://xenomania.freehostia.com/artists/alexisstrum.html|access-date=27 December 2024|work=Xenomania}}</ref> The album was not released and the lead single, entitled "Addicted," from the album was cancelled due to Lorraine Kelly cancelling Alexis's TV performance after mistaking one of her lyrics to be a drugs reference (the lyric in question related to a flavour of ice cream).<ref>{{cite news |last=Scott |first=Danni |date=5 October 2023 |title=A mix-up over ice cream on Lorraine cost me my music career 20 years ago – but now I'm back |url=https://metro.co.uk/2023/10/04/lorraine-mix-up-destroyed-alexis-strums-career-for-20-years-19596176 |access-date=5 October 2023 |publisher=The Metro}}</ref>
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''.<ref>{{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}}</ref> In 2023, Warner released 10 of the songs from the recording sessions as an album titled ''Addicted'' digitally.<ref name="auto">{{cite news |last=Strum |first=Alexis |date=23 July 2023 |title=I'm finally the pop star I dreamed of becoming – and I'm in my forties |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/pop-star-music-alexis-strum-album-b2380472.html |access-date=2 September 2023 |work=The Independent}}</ref>
Strum signed a deal with Universal Music in 2005, following a spot at the V Festival, and was due to release a debut single, "Bad Haircut".<ref name="auto2"/> Originally, a song entitled "Why Me, Why Now?" was due to be released, along with remixes but it was scrapped. The video for "Bad Haircut" video features actor Tom Ellis.<ref>{{Cite tweet |user=alexisstrum|number=1648311340736344064|title=The pop video when Lucifer was my 'boyfriend'...|access-date=27 December 2024}}</ref> The album, ''Cocoon'', originally scheduled for release on 10 October 2005,<ref name="auto2"></ref> was postponed when the single failed commercially, 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 later. It received only a digital release but did receive a music video.<ref>{{cite web|title=Alexis Strum Official Website – News 27 January 2006|url=http://www.alexisstrum.com/go.php?object=news&mode=default&newsID=151|access-date=27 December 2024|work=Alexis Strum Official|date=27 January 2006| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060505214711/http://www.alexisstrum.com/go.php?object=news&mode=default&newsID=151 | archive-date=5 May 2006 }}</ref>
The third single, "Go My Own Way," was digitally released as the theme song to the short-lived ITV drama series ''Vital Signs'', starring Tamsin Outhwaite.<ref>{{cite web|title=Record of the Day: Alexis Strum – Go My Own Way|url=https://www.recordoftheday.com/on-the-move/record/alexis-strum/go-my-own-way|access-date=27 December 2024|work=Record of the Day, part of Music Today Ltd|date=18 May 2006}}</ref> This was released digitally on 22 April 2006.<ref>{{cite web|title=Alexis Strum Official Website|url=http://www.alexisstrum.com/go.php?object=news&mode=default&newsID=156|access-date=27 December 2024|work=Alexis Strum Official|date=22 April 2006| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060505214743/http://www.alexisstrum.com/go.php?object=news&mode=default&newsID=156 | archive-date=5 May 2006 }}</ref>
After the failure of all three singles for the album, the release of ''Cocoon'' was cancelled, and Strum was later dropped by Universal Music. The album was eventually released by Double J Music in 2023 on digital, CD and vinyl.<ref>{{cite web|title=Proper Music – Cocoon|url=https://propermusic.com/products/alexisstrum-cocoon|access-date=2 September 2023|work=Proper Music|date=1 August 2023}}</ref>
===Bo Pepper, acting and songwriting=== Strum was the songwriter, and one of the voices, in the UK indie group Bo Pepper.<ref>{{Cite tweet |user=alexisstrum|number= 1660894843441229826 |title=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 ... |access-date=27 December 2024}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news |last=Lester |first=Paul |date=8 April 2008 |title=New Band of the Week – No 302 Bo Pepper |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2008/apr/08/popandrock2 |access-date=2 September 2023 |work=The Guardian}}</ref> Strum continued to write songs including "Why Not Us" for the German pop group Monrose (2008).{{Citation needed|date=August 2024}} In 2010, her song, "Got a Grip On Me", was featured in the UK Channel 4 comedy, ''The Inbetweeners''.<ref name="auto1">{{cite web |last=Krieger |first=Candice |date=3 March 2011 |title=Alexis Strum lands a starring role at your fingertips |url=https://www.thejc.com/news/news/alexis-strum-lands-a-starring-role-at-your-fingertips-1.21577 |access-date=2 September 2023 |work=The Jewish Chronicle}}</ref>
In 2011 and 2012, Strum toured the UK playing Eva Cassidy's sister, Margaret, in the musical ''Over the Rainbow – The Eva Cassidy Story''.<ref>{{cite web| title=Over the Rainbow: The Eva Cassidy Story (tour – Worthing, Pavilion Theatre) |url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/over-the-rainbow-the-eva-cassidy-story-tour-worthing-pavilion-theatre_5335/|access-date=2 September 2023|work=What's On Stage|date=18 February 2012}}</ref> She next starred in an online drama series created for smartphones titled ''Persona''.<ref name="auto1"/> 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".<ref>{{cite web |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=2 September 2023 |work=Guardian Series}}</ref>
In 2018, Strum wrote an autobiography, ''The Time I Almost...''. A documentary based on it was in development.<ref>{{cite web |title=Comic documentary about failure in development |url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/news/5062/the_time_i_almost_starring_alexis_strum |access-date=2 September 2023| work =British Comedy Guide|date=15 October 2018}}</ref>
===2025 Eurovision sttempt and 3rd album=== In 2023, Strum began uploading songs from her unreleased album "Cocoon" to digital platforms and discovered that she owned the masters to her second album, ''Cocoon''.<ref name="auto"/> After a viral twitter thread, Double J Music offered a record deal to release the album on all formats.<ref>{{cite web |title=Discogs |website=Discogs |date=6 October 2023 |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/28534414-Alexis-Strum-Cocoon |access-date=24 February 2024}}</ref> Separately, Warner Music agreed to upload ten tracks that were recorded for ''Addicted'' to form a version of her debut album, and released it digitally on 1 September 2023.{{Citation needed|date=August 2024}}
In 2025, Strum attempted to enter the Eurovision Song Contest 2025. In a video posted on her social media, she revealed that she initially approached the United Kingdom delegation, expressing interest in representing them in the competition. However, she did not receive a response. Following this, Strum decided to submit an entry to San Marino's national selection process, Una Voce per San Marino 2025, with her song "If You Think I'm Too Much (You Should Go Find Less)". Strum competed in the second semi-final of Una Voce per San Marino 2025, where she performed the song live. However, she failed to qualify for the final.
On 19 September 2025 she released her third album "Swim" which was preceded by the singles Karma, If You Think I'm Too Much, Everybody, Outgrown and the title track Swim.
==Discography==
=== Albums === *''Addicted'' (Released through Warner Music Group digitally on 1 September 2023, and physically through Back on Wax on 8 May 2026; originally planned for release in 2003 through Warner Bros. Records before being shelved) *''Cocoon'' (Released through Back on Wax on 6 October 2023; originally planned for release in 2006 through Mercury Records before being shelved, albeit temporary availability on some online music stores before being pulled) *''Swim'' (Released with Absolute Label Services on 19 September 2025)
=== Singles === * "Yesterday (Silence)" (performed with York) (Released on 1 January 2001) * "Dreaming of You" (performed with The Thrillseekers) (Released on 23 August 2002) * "Addicted" (Released in 2003) * "Bad Haircut" (Released on 26 September 2005) * "It Could Be You" (Released on 13 March 2006) * "Go My Own Way" (Released on 10 April 2006) * "I Haven't Got You Anything (This Christmas)" (performed with Bo Pepper) (Released on 12 November 2007) * "No One but Yourself to Blame" (performed with Bo Pepper) (Released on 23 June 2008) * "Steppin' on My Toes" (performed with Bo Pepper) (Released on 24 November 2008) * "Cocoon" (Released on 8 March 2023) * "Stay Until Summer" (Released on 31 March 2023) * "Maybe Someday" (Released on 8 April 2023) * "Padam Padam (Acoustic)" (Released on 9 February 2024) * "Karma" (Released on 25 October 2024) * "If You Think I'm Too Much (You Should Go Find Less)" (Released on 7 February 2025) * "Swim" (Released on 12 May 2025) * "Everybody" (Released on 18 July 2025) * "Outgrown" (Released on 5 September 2025) * "When the Good Goes Bad" (Released on 13 February 2026)
=== Songwriting credits === * "Memory" – DuMonde vs. Lange (2001) – with Dominik De Leon, Jürgen Mutschall and Lange * "Everything" – Sita (2002) – with Ian Bouman and Paul Westcott * "Still Standing" – Kylie Minogue (2003) – with Ash Thomas * "Circles" – Cherie (2004) – with Jen Godfrey and Bill Padley * "Nothing Good About This Goodbye" – Rachel Stevens (2005) – with Brian Higgins and Nick Coler * "Why Not Us" – Monrose (2008) – with Guy Chambers
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [http://www.alexisstrum.com Official website] * [https://www.spotlight.com/3061-3429-1212 Spotlight CV] * {{MusicBrainz artist | id=f67ce015-8ac8-4616-85b6-89bf45c3854c}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Strum, Alexis}} Category:Alumni of King's College London Category:English women singers Category:English women songwriters Category:English women comedians Category:English stand-up comedians Category:Living people Category:Actors from the London Borough of Waltham Forest Category:Actresses from London Category:Jewish English comedians Category:Comedians from the London Borough of Waltham Forest Category:Singers from the London Borough of Waltham Forest Category:Jewish English actresses Category:People from Chingford Category:Year of birth missing (living people)