Artists chosen for Delia Derbyshire Day commission

Alexis Maxwell is a transdisciplinary storyteller traversing the sociopolitical through work that is conversational, poetic and experimental. Self-taught animator and long-time fan of all things performance, they explore their lived experiences of queerness, mental illness and racial injustice. They reach across disciplines to discover ways of retelling community stories and lived experiences, with a keen interest in autoethnographic explorations of oral histories.

Firm believer that stories can be told in any medium, they use a blend of sound, projection and performance to merge the digital and physical realms. Loudly and proudly working class, they navigate the art sector with a tongue in cheek use of its overblown terminology and a healthy dose of imposter syndrome; not shying away from crudely drawn imagery and cheap alternatives to the modern technology that is so necessary to contemporary art.

Joel Foster is a composer, orchestrator, songwriter and performer based in Blackpool and Liverpool, UK. Having graduated from the University of Liverpool in 2023 with a first-class BA Hons in Music, he’s planning to continue his studies there, working towards a Master's in Composition. 

Joel’s compositions are naturally drawn towards unconventional and compelling harmony (influenced greatly by composers such as Debussy, Ravel, Scriabin, and Neo-Riemannian methodology) and memorable and clear melodic devices. His music has featured in concert performances by the Solem Quartet, theatre productions at Blackpool's Old Electric Theatre, and has been workshopped with players from the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and the Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Society. Joel is also the singer, guitarist, and lead songwriter of alt-rock band, JEKYLL.