There are few people who can say a mistake over banana ice cream on Lorraine could end their career – but that’s exactly what Alexis Strum says happened to her.
The now 46-year-old was enjoying a blossoming career in the early noughties when her promotion for a new song went horribly wrong.
She had a spot on the popular TV show hosted by Lorraine Kelly, to promote upcoming single Addicted but in a blur her segment was axed, nobody would return her calls, and her label left her in the dust.
It turns out, Alexis’s song included a line that the Lorraine producers believed to be ‘a drug reference,’ as she explained in an exclusive chat with Metro.co.uk.
The lyric in question from her synth-filled pop heartbreak tune was ‘I’m a junkie, I’ve overdosed on Chunky Monkey.’
‘It’s a Ben and Jerry’s flavour – banana ice cream,’ Alexis explained, but apparently at the time nobody thought to ask her.
She was iced out and lost her chance at stardom as word spread about her pro-drug song, leading to her label Warner Music turning their backs on her.
At the time, losing prime spots on TV shows or radio plays could make or break an artist, especially one with only a handful of songs under her belt.
Her two ready-to-go albums were lost to time as doors shut in her face every way she turned, leaving her career dead in the water.
Seeing the hilarity in it now, Alexis laughed: ‘Banana ice cream basically ended my career.’
Two decades later, Alexis has released the song and whole album independently and is gearing up to release her second album Cocoon, thanks to her ‘determined’ fans.
‘I didn’t expect people to care but people really relate to the music,’ Alexis continued.
Fans were sharing her songs through ‘blackmarket’ trades of exclusive promotional EPs, which captured snippets of the lost albums.
She added: ‘They found tracks I was missing, someone even gave me Warner Music’s contact. Particularly my LGBTQ+ fans, they’ve been willing me along – there’d be no reason for this without them.’
Now as a single mother with plenty of perspective, Alexis admits she ‘wasn’t ready’ for superstardom the first time around.
The Addicted songstress has ‘lived many lives’ since her pop debut, having written for Kylie Minogue and Rachel Stevens as well as a successful back-up career in IT.
She’s become a TikTok star, known for her popular celebrity impersonations such as Jennifer Coolidge, Moira Rose, and Holly Willoughby but the album release is ‘closure’.
‘I was 20 and eager to please, I was desperate to be successful, now it’s only something fun,’ Alexis said. ‘It’s so nice to feel free and put myself first.
‘At 25 I was told I was too old to be a pop star and to be a writer instead. You can be both.’
She cites other artists like Claire Richards, Shania Twain and the inimitable Kylie for giving her courage to release the tracks now, despite being ‘too old’.
Listening back to these songs written during her teenage years, Alexis feels ‘fondly’ about her younger self – no embarrassment just a refreshing optimism.
She continued: ‘It’s a reminder of how the industry failed me and others, lots were dropped after being signed and it was painful.
Replying to @Ashley James MacGreg Impression of Moira Rose singing Padam Padam #impression #moirarose #padam #padampadam #fyp #foryoupage
‘But pop is coming back and Noughties artists are coming back, there’s something reassuring about the nostalgia. When times are hard it cheers you up.’
As for the ice cream incident, Lorraine Kelly did offer an apology to Alexis in March, claiming she ‘had no idea’ about the debacle.
Lorraine added: ‘Off to buy a jumbo sized tub of chunky monkey.’
Laughing, Alexis of course accepted the apology and as for her own love of the ice cream she’s a big fan and joked: ‘I still eat it!’
Alexis Strum’s long-awaited album is available from October 6 and she will perform an intimate London gig on November 3, tickets are available now.
Metro has contacted Warner Music for comment.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us [email protected], calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
Source: Read Full Article