The Untitled Interview #207: Starring Dexy Valentine (Bonfire Beach/Magic Wands)

Transplanted California girl Dexy Valentine has not one but two pretty fantastic musical ventures going these days: by day it's Magic Wands, and by night Valentine gets her kicks with the dark, gritty scuzz of side gig Bonfire Beach. 

Having seen them open for the Dandy Warhols this past fall, I saw firsthand what Valentine and her Bonfire Beach compatriots could make happen. It was loud and I liked it. Read on to see what three records inspired young Dexy to make music, where she prefers to shop for records, and why playing in one certain church is pretty dang awesome. And be sure to keep an eye on both of Valentine's ventures. They're both well worth your time.   

Fuzzy Logic: How the hell are you? 
Dexy Valentine: Good, thanks.

FL: What was the last song you listened to? 
DV: Cocteau Twins, "Cherry Coloured Funk."

FL: Playing music is: 
DV: A lifelong dream, an escape, a blessing, a curse, the gift that keeps on giving, all of the above...I think some of the the best and worst times of my life have been associated with music or other musicians.

FL: What album most made you realize you wanted to make music?
DV: When I was a kid I got Madonna's first album, Thriller and Xanadu all at the same time.. MJ is gone now and in the past I've done covers of Madonna's "Burning Up" and Olivia Newton-John's "Magic."

FL: Beatles or Stones? 
DV: Beatles.

FL: Top 5 albums (of now, of this week, of ever):
DV: This week I've been listening to:

1. The Cure - Pornography

2. The Smiths - The Queen is Dead

3. David Bowie - The Rise And Fall of Ziggy Stardust & The Spiders From Mars

4. My Bloody Valentine - Loveless

5. Joy Divison - Unknown Pleasures

FL: Favorite music-related movie? 
DV: Searching for Sugar Man.

FL: Half-full or half-empty? 
DV: Half-full.

FL: Which of your peers do you think is making the best music these days?
DV: Rraaiillss, Trace Elements and Pred Forte, all three of those music projects are solo projects by my friend Adam Anderson, you can only find him on Soundcloud and there is like one Pitchfork review of his other project called Incubator. He's really obscure and he's never played live. He produced the Bonfire Beach album and sang on "Paradise Inn."

FL: What's the first thing you think when you wake up in the morning?
DV: I try to remember what I was dreaming or meditate on what I'm going to do with my day.

FL: Little-known Bonfire Beach fact? 
DV: We've never even been to a bonfire on a beach.

FL: The greatest record store in the world is: 
DV: Sick City Records in Silver Lake is my local favorite.

FL: Your boots were made for: 
DV: Worship.

FL: Shaken or stirred? 
DV: Shaken, we have a lot of earthquakes in California.

FL: Favorite venue (either to play or to visit)? 
DV: The South Gate House Revival in Newport, Kentucky. It's a church that was built in 1848 that was converted into a music venue. We played there last October while on tour with The Dandy Warhols.

FL: Best piece of advice you've ever been given? 
DV: I don't often seek advice outside myself unless I need a lawyer but when in doubt I consult my psychic Tamar Lalenya or the Oscar Wilde Twitter page.

FL: If you weren't in a band you'd be? 
DV: Making indie films and rescuing kittens.

FL: If you were so inclined, whom would you form a tribute band in honor of? 
DV: ABBA.

FL: Best song ever written?
DV: Cocteau Twins "Heaven or Las Vegas." 






[posted 1.23.15]