Warpaint - "Billie Holiday"

They’ve got a lush, classic cool sound that is both deep and ethereal. What strikes me about the band is that the real magic for them only started 7 years after they formed, when they began building their own music from the ground up. They bring their power to their music, and though always subtle the confidence shines through.

Warpaint's style has been characterized as art rock, dream pop and psychedelic rock. NME has described their style as "intermittently emerging from plaintive moods into harder rocking, they play expansive, lushly-harmonic psych-rock songs with enough time-changes to satisfy even the most beardy prog-rock bong-tokers". They have been compared to Cocteau Twins, Joni Mitchell, and Siouxsie and the Banshees. Other influences include Kraftwerk, Depeche Mode and Public Image Ltd.The band has also cited hip-hop as an influence of their work. Two songs have been named after their favorite rappers -- "Biggy" and "Dre".

So today, in a dreamy haze, I choose Warpaint’s “Billie Holiday” as my, dream on, hold up, get out, song for, wake up to the light, shut down the dark, hold on to every bright color you can, Monday.

Martha & the Vandellas - "Nowhere To Run"

Martha and the Vandellas (known from 1967 to 1972 as Martha Reeves and the Vandellas) were an American all-female vocal group formed in 1957. The group achieved fame in the 1960s with Motown.

Formed in 1957 by friends Annette Beard, Rosalind Ashford and Gloria Williams, the group eventually included Martha Reeves, who moved up in ranks as lead vocalist of the group after Williams' departure in 1962. The group signed with and eventually recorded all of their singles for Motown's Gordy imprint.

The group's string of hits included "Come and Get These Memories", "Heat Wave", "Quicksand", "Nowhere to Run", "Jimmy Mack", "Bless You" and "Dancing in the Street", the latter song becoming their signature single.

During their nine-year run on the charts from 1963 to 1972, Martha and the Vandellas charted over twenty-six hits and recorded in the styles of doo-wop, R&B, pop, blues, rock and roll and soul. Ten Vandellas songs reached the top ten of the Billboard R&B singles chart, including two R&B number ones, and six Top Ten Pop Hits on the Billboard Hot 100. Selected members of the group were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995.

Busy days need bops.

So today, with the ground running for me, I choose Martha & The Vandellas’ “Nowhere to Run” as my, can’t hide, can’t run, better get ready, song for a, here I come, seeking a drink, here we go, Friday.

David Bowie - "Modern Love"

Just having a bit of an 80’s nostalgia day today. A little Breakfast Club moment. Sometimes you just need a good bop get you dancing through the day!

So today, with guts and glitter, I choose in the comparably talented David Bowie’s “Modern Love” as my, shake a tail feather, Heterochromian Hercules, Love is what you make of it, song for a, dance in your pants, laugh till you cry, follow that fun all the way down the aisle, Thursday.

Ella Fitzgerald - "Heat Wave"

It’s hot up in here y’all!

As I saw the temps for today and tomorrow creep into the triple digits for quite a bit of the country, this classic little ditty popped into my head.

It written by Irving Berlin for the 1933 musical As Thousands Cheer, and introduced in the show by Ethel Waters, and while her version is fun, this is the one I always think about.

So today, with sweat on my brow, I choose Ella Fitzgerald’s version of Irving Berlin’s “Heat Wave” as my, think cool thoughts, ice ice baby, shade never felt so good, song for a, blast me with it, move a little slower and yet a little quicker, down my back like ice cubes in tea, Wednesday.

Natalia Lafourcade - "Soledad y el Mar"

Well, it’s been 3 weeks, have you missed me? I’ve been on a rainbow tour filled with travel, food, rain, sun, heat, hotels, musicals, and love. So much love. Love in so many forms. Family forging a life together, friends facing adversity, and lovers falling ever more deeply into love. So it only felt right to have this international indie darling singing songs of love as my first song back.

Natalia Lafourcade is a successful singer-songwriter whose voice and music live on the edge of pop, but maintain a distinct independence.

A few years ago, while Lafourcade was traveling Brazil, she felt a great nostalgia for her native Mexico and its folk music. When she finally returned home, she immediately called some friends for the kind of party that is ubiquitous in Latin America: lots of social drinking, lots of food and lots of guitars and singing.

Classic folk songs were on the playlist and a good time was had by all. Someone recorded the informal jam session and Lafourcade's management team heard the tapes. "This is your next record!" they told her. That record, Musas: Un Homenaje al Folclore Latinoamericano en Manos de los Macorinos, Vol. 1, was a commercial and critical hit, and received a Latin Grammy nomination for Album of the Year.

The performances are an ode to a magical time in Mexican popular music, one that is revived with every note this singer and her band perform.

One important historical note: The two older gentlemen on the video are Juan Carlos Allende and Miguel Peña, two revered musicians who played with the iconic ranchera singer Chavela Vargas.

So today, with tradition both honored and endured, I choose Natalia Lafourcade’s "Soledad y el Mar" as my, find your shining moment, follow your heart, let the heat bring the rain, song for a, follow my lead, lead on, sing to me the songs of those loves left behind, Tuesday.

Lady Gaga - "Imagine (John Lennon Cover)"

As I stepped off the Underground today, coming from London’s Heathrow Airport this song was being performed by a street musician. A not particularly attractive woman, but someone who has lived her life, and weathered storms, and her voice showed the signs of said life. It was riveting. Lady Gaga’s version is the closest I can find, but still doesn’t do it justice.

It’s 95° here in London today, and it was over 100° on the tube. Needless to say I was sweat-drenched, angry, and frustrated by the time I finally stepped off my hour long trek on the train. Then, like magic, this soft little breeze of a song wafted through the tunnels to remind us that life is actually pretty wonderful, and the world is lovely if you just give it the chance.

So I took a deep breath of the hot, humid, stick, underground air. I gave the singer a smile. I stood my back that had rivers running down it a little straighter, and I reminded myself that I am actually the luckiest.

As I head off to a festival filled with people doing their best to live the P.L.U.R. lifestyle, I think this is the perfect song to choose.

So today, a sweaty happy mess, I choose Lady Gaga’s cover of John Lennon’s "Imagine" as my, let your heart remember joy, find the space to be happy, choose the sunny side (unless you need the shade), song for a, adventure waits for no man, opportunity doesn’t always knock twice, open your wings and fly, Wednesday

Ruth B. - "Lost Boy"

Ruth Berhe (born July 2, 1995), better known by her stage name Ruth B., is a Canadian singer and songwriter from Edmonton, Alberta. She started by singing songs on Vine in early 2013. In November 2015, she released her debut EP, The Intro. On May 5, 2017, she released her first album, Safe Haven. Her single "Lost Boy" has accumulated over 300 million streams on Spotify alone as of June 2018, while her YouTube channel has received a total of 165 million views.

This beautiful Canadian songstress has that effortless lilt that is just above a whisper. It calls you and in and intoxicates you. I’m excited to see how she uses her unique voice to its fullest potential.

So today, as fly off to Neverland to never grow up, I choose Ruth B.’s "Lost Boy" as my, follow me, pixie dust in my pocket, 2nd star to the right, song for an, I’ll fly anywhere with you, dreams to live by, lives to dream by, Tuesday.

The Chainsmokers - "Paris"

As I’m amping up to go to my very first TomorrowLand Festival, I’m taking stock of all the headliners that I want to see. The Chainsmokers are definitely high on that list. I’ve always enjoyed their music, I’ve loved their sound, and it wasn’t until I went through and looked at their catalogue that I realized just how many bops and bangers they have. They have a way of producing some incredible music in a style that is uniquely their own.

To today, with exotic unknown European Destinations ahead, I choose The Chainsmokers - "Paris" as my, find your adventure, wander with purpose, aimless ambling, song for a, let’s go down together, it’s a group effort, we’ll light up the night like fireflies rising, Monday.