Magic Wands

Magic Wands is a dream pop[1] band, originally from Nashville, Tennessee, and currently based in Los Angeles, California. The band has referred to their sound as "lovewave and dreampop".[2]

Magic Wands
Chris and Dexy Valentine of Magic Wands
Background information
OriginNashville, Tennessee, United States
GenresDream pop
Years active2009–present
LabelsArk Recordings, Bright Antenna, Cleopatra Records, Casa del Puente Discos
Associated actsBonfire Beach
Websitemagicwandsband.com
MembersChris Valentine
Dexy Valentine

History

The band was formed by Chris Valentine (guitar, vocals) and Dexy Valentine (guitar, keyboards, vocals) in summer 2008, after Chris found a copy of Dexy's song "Teenage Love" on her band the Dollphins' MySpace page and the two got in touch.[3] Dexy moved from Los Angeles to Nashville and the two began to write music together. The name of the band stemmed from the gift of a magic wand from Chris to Dexy while the two were living on opposite sides of the country.[4]

Their first single, "Black Magic", was released on 7" vinyl in 2008 by Ark Recordings.[5] In late 2009, the band signed to indie label Bright Antenna and released their first EP, Magic Love & Dreams, recorded in New York City with producer John Hill (Santigold/Lykke Li).[6] Prefix's review gave the album a 7 out of 10 score, with critic Matthew Richardson writing, "The whole EP is covered with the cosmic haze of dream-pop, while the Valentines maintain the attitude of punk kids".[7]

On February 17, 2010, RCRD LBL released a download of the track "Warrior", remixed by the xx.[8]

The Wands' debut studio album, Aloha Moon, was announced on the Spin website on February 7, 2012, along with a stream of the single "Space". Reviewer David Marchese wrote that the track was "a sexy and propulsive stunner...a really cool song, suggestive of the darker side of '80s pop and brighter side of falling in love".[9]

On April 5, 2012, RCRD LBL premiered the band's non-album cover of the Madonna song "Burning Up".[10]

Aloha Moon was released on April 24, 2012, by Bright Antenna.[11] The band toured as openers for the Jesus and Mary Chain in summer 2012.

Magic Wands relocated to Los Angeles, and recorded their second album, Jupiter, with the rhythm section of bassist Michael Schenk and drummer Charlie Woodburn. [12] The album marked a change in approach, as Dexy Valentine noted, "We decided to not use electronic backing tracks for this album and keep it more spontaneous and experimental and have live players on stage actually playing their instruments".[12]

While the album was being mixed, Dexy Valentine reformed her prior band, Bonfire Beach, self-releasing the digital album Lit in 2013, issuing an eponymous 2014 album on Cleopatra Records and touring with the Dandy Warhols.[12] She also collaborated with Ariel Pink on the track "Walkie Talkie", issued only via Magic Wands' SoundCloud page; Pink included his own version, sans Dexy Valentine and retitled "Lipstick", on his 2014 album Pom Pom.[13][14]

Meanwhile, Chris Valentine traveled, studied ancient sound healing and opened his own shop.[12] Magic Wands also contributed a cover of David Bowie's "Cat People (Putting Out Fire)" to the 2015 Cleopatra tribute album A Salute to the Thin White Duke - The Songs of David Bowie.

Jupiter was eventually released by Cleopatra on February 26, 2016.[12][15]

Magic Wands then added two new live members, bassist Tommy Alexander and drummer Keith Crutchfield (the latter replaced by Pablo Amador).[16] Keyboardist Phil Galoni also performed on their 2017 tour.[17]

On May 18, 2018, the band released their third studio album, Abrakadabra on Argentine label Casa Del Puente Discos.[18] That same month, Magic Wands also self-released the Portals digital-only compilation album collecting B-sides, demos and other unreleased recordings. A vinyl edition of Abrakadabra was released on July 13 by US label Etxe Records.,[19] Abrakadabra on Los Angeles, CA and Washington, DC based label on vinyl offering a full-length digital download with bonus track "Puzzle of Love".[20] Argentina based label Casa Del Puente Discos is providing CD versions of the release.[18]

Discography

Studio albums

EPs

Singles

Compilation albums
  • Portals (2018, self-released)

Compilation appearances

References
  1. "Magic Wands Info on Facebook". August 10, 2011. Retrieved 2011-08-10.
  2. Vanyaland.com
  3. Lester, Paul (May 23, 2008). "No 322: Magic Wands". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 2010-06-23.
  4. "Magic Wands Interview: SXSW 2010". March 12, 2010. Retrieved 2010-06-23.
  5. "Magic Wands - Black Magic (Discogs)". Jan 1, 2009. Retrieved 2010-08-11.
  6. "Magic Love & Dreams Picture Disc". June 7, 2009. Archived from the original on May 18, 2011. Retrieved 2010-08-11.
  7. "Prefix Review of Magic Love & Dreams". August 11, 2009. Retrieved 2010-06-23.
  8. "EXCLUSIVE NEW DOWNLOAD: Magic Wands - Warrior (The xx Remix)". Feb 17, 2010. Archived from the original on May 5, 2010. Retrieved 2010-08-11.
  9. "First Spin: Hear Magic Wands' Dream-Pop Jam 'Space'". Feb 7, 2012. Retrieved 2012-02-10.
  10. "PREMIERE: Magic Wands - Burning Up (Madonna Cover)". Rcrd Lbl. Archived from the original on 2012-07-18. Retrieved 2013-07-25.
  11. "Consequence of Sound article w/ Aloha Moon Tracklisting". February 8, 2012. Retrieved 2012-02-13.
  12. http://www.post-punk.com/album-of-the-month-magic-wands-jupiter/
  13. https://soundcloud.com/magic-wands/walkie-talkie-music-by-ariel-1
  14. http://www.buzznet.com/2014/01/buzznet-exclusive-up-close-ariel/?firefox=1
  15. "Exclusive Track Premiere: 'Love Soldier,' Magic Wands - Interview Magazine". Interview Magazine. 2016-02-16. Retrieved 2017-10-25.
  16. Interviewmagazine.com
  17. https://www.weirdomusicforever.com/weird-news-and-interviews/dexy-valentine-talks-new-magic-wands-album
  18. http://www.godisinthetvzine.co.uk/2018/05/17/exclusive-magic-wands-abrakadabra-lp-premiere/
  19. https://www.etxerecords.com/news/2018/7/7/etxe-to-release-new-magic-wands-lp
  20. https://www.etxerecords.com/store/etxe018
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