Magic Wands released the single “Diamond Rain” on August 14, 2026 through Metropolis Records. The Los Angeles duo of vocalists and guitarists Dexy and Chris Valentine mix dream-pop with shoegaze, post-punk and goth, and the track is the first to be lifted from a new Magic Wands album due in early 2027. It is out digitally, with a self-made video posted to the band’s YouTube channel the same day.

What Magic Wands say about ‘Diamond Rain’

The duo describe the song as deliberately open rather than fixed: “the song doesn’t have one fixed meaning. To us, it’s about moving toward the light, finding beauty after darkness and allowing people to discover their own meaning within it.”

They made the accompanying video themselves and explain how the look was built: “using old cameras, lights and mirrors to create textures and effects that give it a dreamlike feeling.”

“Diamond Rain” streams and downloads through Bandcamp and the usual digital services. No physical edition has been announced, and the duo have not named the 2027 album or given it a date.

‘Diamond Rain’ follows two EPs and a Peter Murphy remix

The single closes a busy eighteen months. The album “Cascades” arrived on October 24, 2025, trailed by the double single “Time To Dream” backed with “Armour (River Remix by Lost Signal)” the previous month. A Delerium remix of “Moonshadow” followed on March 13, 2026.

Two EPs came after that. The “Wishing Well” EP, six songs issued on April 24, 2026, was preceded by its title track in February and by “Sacred Mirrors”, a January 2026 collaboration with John Ashton of The Psychedelic Furs. The six-track “Remixes” EP landed on June 12, 2026 and reworked material from “Cascades”. In between, the pair remixed Peter Murphy; Side-Line covered that single when Peter Murphy released “Swoon (Magic Wands Remix)” on May 29, 2026.

About Magic Wands

Magic Wands formed in Nashville in 2008 around Dexy and Chris Valentine, who share vocals and guitars, and later moved to Los Angeles. Metropolis Records describes their sound as heavily textured guitars, droning synths and ethereal vocals. The duo have released through Metropolis for over a decade.

Side-Line first covered them in April 2022 around the single “Fortune”, then the single “Time” in May 2023 and the remix album and tour that August. The album “Switch” followed in 2023 and was reviewed here that September. “Cascades” came in October 2025 and drew the run of singles, remixes and EPs that “Diamond Rain” now brings to a close, with the next album set for early 2027.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

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COP International will release the “Los Angeles – From The Ashes” charity compilation tomorrow. You can already pre-order it now for 10 USD. The release will only be available through Bandcamp.

The devastating fires in Los Angeles also destroyed “one of the most vibrant artist communities in the world” so COP International’s Christian says. “Many of our friends, collaborators, and fellow artists were displaced, with some losing everything. Among those deeply affected was Louise Fraser of Muricidae Music, a beloved COP International artist, who lost her home in the tragedy. In the face of this devastation, we knew we had to take action. This is our response: “Los Angeles – Out of Ashes”—a massive 75-track Bandcamp compilation, bringing together an extraordinary community of artists, labels, and supporters.”

All net income from the release will be donated directly to the American Red Cross, helping fire victims and aiding ongoing relief efforts. Since it’s Bandcamp Friday tomorrow, Bandcamp will waive its fee, ensuring that every dollar goes to those in need.

The 75 bands included are: Black Needle Noise, Blackcarburning, Dogtablet, Stoneburner, Inertia, Carrellee, The Halo Trees, I Ya Toyah, Jane Jensen Music, Muricidae Music, NØIR, Die Kammer, Black Angel, Night Ritualz, SJÖBLOM, Red Lorry Yellow Lorry, Chris Connelly & Dan Milligan, The Cassandra Complex, KY music, Louise Fraser, G.W. Childs IV, Junksista, Johnny Tupolev, unitcode:machine, Deathline International, The Russian White, Icon of Coil Official, Brigade Enzephalon, Monody, Lights of Euphoria, Black Nail Cabaret, Ruined Conflict, Solemnshapes, A Projection, Magic Wands, Beborn Beton, TORUL, Lost Signal, Orange Sector (offiziell), Interface, genCAB, MESH, Destroy Me Again, Sapphira Vee, Dstrtd Sgnl, Klack, TREASVRE, xotox, Frontal Boundary, nolongerhuman, Bellhead, V2A, Metamorph, Red Lokust, WESENBERG, Psyclon 9, Flesh Field, Principe Valiente, Death By Love, Winema Suehead, Sick Jokes, Chiasm, The Hunger, Vaselyne, Solar Fake, Girls Under Glass, NORMORIA, Stabbing Westward, Jesus On Extasy, The Shadow Majlis, Amulet, Suicide Queen, Ego Likeness, Schattenmann, Beasto Blanco.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

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On August 16th, Principe Valiente will release a remix EP, “In This Lights (Remixes)’, in collaboration with fellow artists from Metropolis Records.

This project features contributions from Girls Under Glass, Paradox Obscur, Magic Wands, Winter Severity Index, and Sean de Winzer from Clan Of Xymox, each offering their take on the singles “Something New” and “Inspired By Me”. You can already pre-order the new EP on Bandcamp.

Earlier this year, the band already released a remix for Clan Of Xymox in May and is set to reveal another remix for Magic Wands later this year.

Principe Valiente, a band from Stockholm, Sweden, brings a blend of dark pop, post-punk, and shoegaze influences. Formed in 2005, they have released several albums under Metropolis Records, including “Barricades” and their latest, “In This Light”.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

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Genre/Influences: Dream-Pop, Shoegaze.

Format: Digital, CD, Vinyl.

Background/Info: American formation Magic Wands has already been busy for a while. Based in Los Angeles the band is driven by Chris and Dexy Valentine. They released several albums on different labels and now joined hands together with Metropolis Records to unleash “Switch”.

Content: The album features 12 songs plus 5 remixes while the digital format has a bonus of 5 remixes. After an intro track we rapidly dive into the Dream-Pop and Shoegaze universe of the band. The guitar creates this magic, Shoegaze, spirit which has been carried by deep bass playing. The album is mixing pure reverie together with harder cuts. Shadow Mirrors remixed 3 songs while 2 other remixes have been accomplished by Stargods.

+ + + : This is a great work for its balance between Dream-Pop and Shoegaze music while the female vocals are often reminding me of  Ladytron. It all together creates a sensual, dreamy, music travel. The previously released single “Time” remains one of the master tracks and also is one of the hardest cuts from the album. Other attention grabbers are “Dream ‘92” achieved with delicate sound treatments and electronic arrangements. “Joy” is a perfect title for a cool Dream-Pop experience reinforced by shoegaze guitar parts.

– – – : There’s only one cut going over the 4 minutes. Short cuts are perfect to me but I regret some of the best cuts aren’t a tiny bit more extended.

Conclusion: Magic Wands confirm their great potential while getting signed to Metropolis will probably bring new fans to the band. This is good-old, dark, Dream-Pop music.

Best songs: “Time”, “Dream 92”, “Joy”, “Falling Trees”, “Daylight”.

Rate: 8.

Artist: www.magicwandsband.com / www.facebook.com/themagicwands

Label: www.metropolis-records.com / www.facebook.com/MetropolisRecords

About Magic Wands

Magic Wands is a dream-pop duo formed in Nashville, Tennessee in 2008 by Dexy Valentine (guitar, keyboards, vocals) and Chris Valentine (guitar, vocals), later relocating to Los Angeles. The band’s sound blends dream-pop, shoegaze, post-punk and gothic influences, built on textured guitars, synthesiser arrangements and ethereal vocals. Magic Wands released its debut album, “Aloha Moon”, in 2012, followed by “Jupiter” in 2016, “Abrakadabra” in 2018 and “Illuminate” in 2020. The album “Switch” followed in 2023, the band’s first release on Metropolis Records.

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I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

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The dark dream pop duo from Los Angeles, Magic Wands, has recently launched a remix album titled “Switched”. This album is a follow-up to “Switch”, which they released earlier in May.

The “Switched” album showcases remixes by artists such as Shadow Mirrors, Stargods, and Lars Deutsch. It’s available on all digital and streaming platforms, courtesy of Metropolis Records.

Magic Wands began their musical journey in 2007 with their debut single “Teenage Love”. Their debut album, “Aloha Moon”, was introduced in 2011, following a collaborative album in 2010 that featured four artists from Bright Antenna. Since then, they’ve unveiled a series of singles and albums.

Additionally, Magic Wands is set to headline a summer tour along the West Coast. The tour kicks off on August 17th at the Moroccan Lounge in Los Angeles. They’ll be joined by supporting acts Lorelei K and Treasvre on certain dates. Tickets can be purchased online, and the tour dates are listed below.

• Thursday August 17 2023 Los Angeles, CA The Moroccan Lounge
• Friday August 18 2023 Oakland, CA Thee Stork Club
• Sunday August 20 2023 Sacramento, CA The Starlet Room
• Tuesday August 22 2023 Bellingham, WA The Shakedown
• Wednesday August 23 2023 Seattle, WA El Corazon
• Thursday August 24 2023 Portland, OR The Coffin Club
• Friday August 25 2023 Boise, ID Shrine Basement
• Sunday August 27 2023 Denver, CO HQ Denver

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

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Magic Wands is a US dark pop outfit originally formed in Nashville by guitarists and vocalists Chris and Dexy Valentine, but now based in Los Angeles where they have been joined by drummer Pablo Amador.

Having released a single in late March entitled “Joy”, the group have now followed it with “Time”. Complemented with a pair of remixes apiece, both are also included on “Switch”, a brand new album set for release on 12th May. The album also holds 5 remixes by Shadow Mirrors and Stargods.

The group have released three albums over the last decade on which they a dark pop / dream pop sound that incorporates elements of shoegaze, post-punk and goth.

You can check out the album preview below.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

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Post-punk act Magic Wands are premiering their new song “Fortune” on Side-Line. The track is taken off a new album that they will release later this year and which is the follow-up album to 2021’s “Illuminate” full length. The track itself is about fantasy and alchemy, simultaneously reflecting on childhood and forgotten dreams.

Magic Wands are a trio from Los Angeles, CA composed of Chris and Dexy Valentine (vocals/guitar) and Pablo Amador (drums).

The new single comes after the release of the “Love Kills the Void” which is together with “Fortune” part of a series of songs that will be compiled as an album later this year on Feline Records. Magic Wands will be announcing their UK and European summer tour dates soon.

Check out “Fortune” below!

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

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