The sister of a Dundee musician who took their own life has described them as the “kindest and bravest human”.
Lexi Campbell, a 25-year-old student, died at a flat on Perth Road last month.
Lexi, who used the pronouns they/them/she/her, moved to Dundee from Northampton eight years ago to study philosophy and French at Dundee University, and then went on to study popular music – specialising in bass guitar – at Perth College.
Lexi’s sister Shona, who lives in Liverpool, says the pair remained close despite the distance.
Shona said: “Lex was the kindest and bravest human being I’ve ever met and that I probably ever will meet.
“They gave out so much love, that’s what will stick with people, and I think everyone should be a little more like Lex.
“We had always been super close as siblings, which is something I’m very grateful for.
“Things change when you move to university and you become independent but our parents have always been very supportive.”
Lexi was well-known on the Dundee music circuit, having played with several bands, most recently Corde Du Roi.
Shona, 22, says music was “always a huge part” of who Lexi was, having started playing piano and guitar at a young age.
‘So talented’ at music
“It was engrained in everything they did and they were just so talented at it, they didn’t even have to try,” Shona said.
“I remember them starting their first band at school, but the way they evolved when they moved to Dundee was insane.
“Lex was kind of like a celebrity in Dundee, you couldn’t go for a 10-minute walk without being stopped five or six times by people they knew.
“Whenever I went to visit Lex they’d drag me out to the open mic and I’d sing and they’d play the guitar, and we’d have a great time.
“Performing with them was one of the best things I ever got to do.”
Shona says Lexi blossomed as a transgender non-binary person while living in Dundee.
Lexi ‘immediately saw Dundee as home’
She said: “Lex’s transition was maybe a year-and-a-half ago, and I remember the conversation they had with me when they told me they were trans non-binary.
“I just said: ‘That makes so much sense. I completely get it, that’s amazing.’
“I remember the kind of shy – maybe a little chubby – kid that went up to Dundee and then the beautiful human being that I remember the last time that I saw them, they were just so brave.
“A lot of people would have been scared to dress the way that Lex dressed, to be themselves the way that Lex was.
“They just had a way of flouncing around Dundee and not really caring what anyone thought.
“Lex just immediately saw Dundee as home and you could tell because they became so comfortable in themselves.”
Calls for more mental health support
Following Lexi’s death, Shona launched a crowdfunder to help raise money for charity the Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH).
“Lex obviously had some issues with their mental health but they were always so positive and bubbly – a lot of people would never even know – and I think those are the cases where people need help,” Shona said.
My family and I would have done anything in the world for Lex, but there are things we would have never been able to help with
Shona Campbell
“Its hard, especially now, where more people are becoming more open with queer identities.
“That’s a wonderful thing but it’s not being reflected in how money is plugged into services like the NHS.
“My family and I would have done anything in the world for Lex, but there are things we would have never been able to help with, and these things are what qualified people should be doing.
“If we can supply as many people with access to those qualified people, who can help them in ways that their family and friends want to but can’t, that is what will help them.”
Lexi’s funeral is being held in Dundee next week but Shona is also planning a memorial gig.
Band left ‘devastated’ by death
Dan Richardson, who was Lexi’s bandmate in Corde Du Roi, says the group is “devastated”.
He said: “Lexi represented so many positive morals we can only strive to have: kindness, compassion, selflessness and love for so many people.
“It was an honour to be able to have shared so many fantastic memories and moments on stage with them.
“They were an extremely talented bassist and all-round musician.
“The local music scene and the wider music community will definitely feel their loss, as they brought so much to the music community, inspiring the younger generation and those around them with an incredible energy and passion when playing.”
He added that Lexi was an “ambassador for being true to yourself” and will be “sorely missed”.
