{"id":816,"date":"2026-06-17T11:51:19","date_gmt":"2026-06-17T15:51:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/occamstypewriter.org\/wintle\/?p=816"},"modified":"2026-06-17T11:54:19","modified_gmt":"2026-06-17T15:54:19","slug":"alex","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/occamstypewriter.org\/wintle\/2026\/06\/17\/alex\/","title":{"rendered":"Alex"},"content":{"rendered":"

Jenny’s recent post about mental health in higher education<\/a>\u00a0seems, unfortunately, very timely. Seven months after the fact, I’ve learned that a singer, songwriter, and social worker I know has died. While I am privy to a few details, I don’t know much. She did speak openly about her own struggles with bipolar disorder, and you may, I suppose, make some inferences based on that.<\/p>\n

In any case, here – for what it may be worth, and I hope the answer is “something helpful” – are a few words and a photograph. Alex McCulloch, friends.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

“I have been in love, I\u2019ve traveled, I\u2019ve made art and I\u2019ve helped people. Remember me as an artist, a lover, a friend, a niece, a sister and a daughter.”<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Alex<\/a><\/p>\n

Alex McCulloch \u2013 a talented singer, songwriter, and performer \u2013 died one day after her 30th birthday, on October 20, 2025. I only knew her a little, through shows I went to at some well-known Toronto music venues. A staple on both Danforth Avenue and Queen Street West, Alex is missed by her audience, her friends and family, and the network of musicians that she knew, performed with, and supported.<\/p>\n

I first met Alex in May of 2022. I\u2019d gone to the Free Times Caf\u00e9<\/a> to see folk musician Zack Elliott<\/a>. As a bonus, Jessica Spurrell<\/a>, filling in for an ailing Jessie Gosling<\/a>, was also on the bill. The third act was Alex, completely unknown to me \u2013 and a revelation. A singer with a big voice and bigger words. I learned over the ensuing years that while she frequently surrounded herself with other talented musicians, she could also hold a room by herself \u2013 voice, guitar, and those songs that dipped into many personal experiences. In hindsight, it seems that some of those words described parts of her life that may have contributed to its end.<\/p>\n

Alex leaves a legacy of astonishing music, full of incisive, clever wordplay and beautiful melodies. Her voice could slide, seemingly without effort, between raspy and silky-smooth. Her lyrics often blended the angular, rhythmic rhyming of hip-hop with the poignant poetry of the best folk music. Think Eminem-meets-Joni Mitchell, and you\u2019re in the right ballpark. Drum Circle<\/em> and Silver Spoon<\/em>, both from her last EP Gord<\/a><\/em>, are among the best examples. I suggest that you listen to those, and then dig deeper into her catalogue<\/a>. You won\u2019t be disappointed.<\/p>\n

No-one, I suspect, can know what led Alex to the end of her life. What is left are the memories of those who knew her, and that astonishing body of songs, which should forever continue to be worth our attention. There is more information here<\/a>, including an opportunity to donate to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, should you wish to.<\/p>\n

Goodbye, Alex. I\u2019m sorry you left us so soon, and I hope you\u2019ve found peace. Thank you for your songs, your fearless words, your willingness to give them your voice, and your genuine happiness to see me when I made the effort to show up. I\u2019m glad there are pictures left to look at, and songs we can listen to.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Alex McCulloch, 1995-2025. Music and words worth your attention. Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[190],"tags":[240,244,69,243,241,242],"class_list":["post-816","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-music-2","tag-alex-mcculloch","tag-mental-health","tag-music","tag-musician","tag-singer","tag-songwriter"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/occamstypewriter.org\/wintle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/816","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/occamstypewriter.org\/wintle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/occamstypewriter.org\/wintle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/occamstypewriter.org\/wintle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/14"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/occamstypewriter.org\/wintle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=816"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/occamstypewriter.org\/wintle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/816\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":820,"href":"https:\/\/occamstypewriter.org\/wintle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/816\/revisions\/820"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/occamstypewriter.org\/wintle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=816"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/occamstypewriter.org\/wintle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=816"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/occamstypewriter.org\/wintle\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=816"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}