Last year, Alexis advised people heading to Coachella on the plateaus and pitfalls of getting awesome in the music festival circuit. She wrote her entry from a wistful yet wise point-of-view, dispensing such sage advice as “your sunglasses will be in every photo – if they are the weak link in your bag, fix it” and “fanny packs are critical for hands-free partying.” This year she is attending Coachella and shares her motivations for returning below.

The countdown is on, my friends. Seven days!

I have been to Coachella before. In fact, I wrote a blog post last year about my experiences in Indio and how to best prepare for the ensuing mayhem. While experiencing some remorse over not going again, I reasoned that I had made the pilgrimage to Coachella before and that it was time to cross other goals off my list.

I was wrong. What I realized while gazing at my pal’s mobile uploads all festival weekend (yes, I am a masochist) was that sometimes an occasion is so awesome that hitting it twice is the right answer.

So now what? My ticket, accommodation and flights are booked. My mates and I are already planning the Ace Hotel and Trader Joe’s visits. I’ve replaced 2011’s acronym F.O.M.O. with W.W.Z.S.D. (what-would-Zoe-Saldana-do) for outfit inspiration. All that’s left is the music.

Oh yeah - the music! With all the VIP-poolside-margarita-hotel-hopping-palm-tree distractions, it’s easy to forget that Coachella is all about the tunes. Last time I went, my buddy Eric made a playlist that we ended up playing on repeat the entire weekend. It was a great way to get familiar with lesser-known acts; to this day I still associate Bloc Party, Wolfmother and Gnarls Barkley together with our 2006 Coachella “soundtrack.”

Without further ado, here is my 2012 Can’t-Miss Coachella Playlist. It’s impossible to get all of my favourite acts on one list (the festival really is THAT big) so feel free to add your favourites and get the party started.

2012 can’t-miss coachella playlist

*Please note: due to certain, ahem, “restrictions” we are no longer able to list these songs in downloadable playlist format. We are working on a solution soon so we can continue sharing the sound love with you.

santigold – disparate youth
Santigold is probably in my top three of artists I am most excited to see. The buzz surrounding her live shows is ferocious.

the weeknd – the morning
The Prince-esque guitar, the unabashed crooning, the auto-tune, the collaborations with Drake…invest in The Weeknd because this show is guaranteed money in the bank. Do yourself a favour and listen to some Frank Ocean while you’re at it.

the black angels – young men dead
I first got to know The Black Angels after one of their songs was featured in Red Bull’s seriously awesome “Art Of Flight” snowboarding video from last winter. If the apocalypse comes as promised this year, “Young Men Dead” will be my soundtrack.

justice – civilization
French people know how to dance. They know how to party. They can wear scarves without looking like twits and eat cheese without gaining weight. Let’s just face it: they’re cooler than the rest of us.

pulp – common people
Between Madness, Tim Armstrong, Mazzy Star and Pulp, the old school acts at Coachella this year are legit. Watching Jarvis Cocker strut his stuff is a can’t miss.

beirut – santa fe
Santa Fe = the catchiest song of 2011. Beirut is producing some of the most innovative music in recent memory. Get into it.

miike snow – paddling out
Okay, I already loved Miike Snow in a borderline-creepy way…and then they released their most recent album and full-on obsession gripped my headphones.

kaskade – 4 am
Kaskade may fall into guilty pleasure territory (see also: David Guetta and Avicii) but I don’t care. We all know these shows are going to be the hot mix so pack your dancing shoes and let’s make it happen.

explosions in the sky – your hand in mine
If you’re looking for a timeout from beat-heavy hip-hop and electro dance parties, check these guys out. Their most recent album is interesting all the way through and only gets better with every listen.

childish gambino – freaks and geeks
The lyrics to this song are so clever. I have a feeling that Childish Gambino is going to be huge so catch him here for “I saw him when…” memories years from now.

bon iver – calgary
It’s always an incredible experience watching an artist perform at the pinnacle of their career. Justin Vernon is known for his interesting live collaborations - let’s hope he has some tricks up his sleeves.

radiohead – weird fishes arpeggi
Thom and the crew are known for pulling Neil Young-style “we’re not playing anything but our latest album’s tracks” antics on tour…but if I have one wish it’s that they put this gem on their playlist.

dr. dre featuring snoop dogg – nuthin’ but a g thang
While you may not listen to these dudes on the regular anymore, this is a Coachella must. Snoop’s never been caught slippin’ – make sure you aren’t either and make this show a priority.

azaelia banks – 212
This is going to be a CRAZY SHOW. Believe it.

the horrors – still life
A favourite of music bloggers everywhere, this could be the sleeper hit of the entire festival.

girl talk – play your part (part 1)
The raging debate about the legitimacy of mash-up artists aside, Girl Talk is going to be a PARTY. Get sweaty in the crowd or safely observe how crazy humans can get from afar.

david guetta featuring kid cudi – memories
78 million views on YouTube can’t be a coincidence. Guetta is FUN – get over the street cred and turn up the party (this also applies to Kaskade, Avicii and anything else that hurts to the hipster bone).

florence and the machine – cosmic love
This show is going to be one for the books. Let’s hope the festival planners put Florence and company on during the gorgeous Indio sunset.

st. vincent – marrow
Every track on St. Vincent’s third album “Strange Mercy” is absolutely magical. Check her out if you need a little mellow time in between party acts.

m83 – wait
I’m already getting goose bumps just thinking about this being performed.

Hopefully this playlist will give you ideas for your own list.  Alexis will be one of 20,000 girls wearing a fringe purse, jean cutoffs, bohemian blouse and taking Instagram photos (she knows she’s being SUPER original )– give her a high five if you see her in Indio!

If you are reading this in the back seat of a car while en route to Palm Springs for the Coachella Music Festival, congratulations! You have made a fantastic life decision. Our resident music maven couldn't agree more. Inspired by Coachella, Alexis offered to share her sage advice on the subject of summer concerts. We happily obliged (and took feverish notes).

alexis talks coachella

I had the pleasure of attending the 2006 Coachella Music Festival and had the time of my life. Unlike an indoor concert, which is also rad, outdoor festivals are about more than just great music. It’s about taking part in a weekend experience that revolves around joy, human connection, and just letting go and living in the moment.

Music creates the possibility to completely ditch our traditional views on boundaries. If you want to muscle your way to the front of the crowd, panting off every word of your favorite song without thinking about personal space and mingling sweat, you can. Stop and think about the wonder of that, really. Where else would you do this - the bus? The possibility to drop our inhibitions and lose ourselves in a beautiful moment - what a revolutionary and special opportunity.

what to see & hear at coachella

If you're headed to Coachella, take note of the list below. It may possibly have the longest title and it surely has the most valuable information you need for the weekend.

Top Five Bands In The Fine Print of The Coachella Poster That You Will Be Bummed About Missing In Five Years If You Don’t Go Now

Yelle – Can you say ‘dance party’ in French? You will be able to after this kinetic show.

City and Colour – Your eyes aren’t playing tricks…there IS an extra ‘u’ in ‘Colour,’ eh! These Canadian dudes are absolutely amazing.

Two Door Cinema Club – All my friends in the know swear these guys are the next big thing. See them now before you’re paying triple digits for club shows.

The Foals – See above statement.

Delorean – Any band that names themselves after the car in ‘Back To The Future’ can’t suck – it’s science!

The biggest little wristband

lex's guide to summer festivals

As a veteran of many outdoor music festivals, I can tell you that there are things that you will be happy you have with you – items that can save your happiness and keep you grooving. (We're talking about more than the wristband to get you inside the gates.) If you're Coachella-bound, you've already packed but there is still a long season of summer concerts ahead. Take my word and be sure to pack the following, no matter which festival you flock to.

Top Ten Items You Must Pack In Order to Keep Your Sanity

Lip balm – Running around in the summer heat? No matter how much water you drink, you will be dehydrated.

Fanny pack – Trust me. You think a trendy bag is a great idea for your perfectly planned hipster outfit? You won’t be thinking that when your keys are on the bottom of the mosh pit at Kings Of Leon. We actually make a wicked fanny pack perfect for hands-free partying. You can most likely find it at your local store. 

Denim cutoffs – They go with everything, they get better the dirtier they are, and nothing is hotter than a white tank, a bikini top, and your favorite old jeans hacked up.

Wunder Under Crops - I’m not even saying this because I work at lululemon, guides honor. When I went to Coachella (pre-working here), these were my staples. Perfect for changing into post-show if you’re camping, a great layer under a mini-dress if the weather is cloudy, great for the tired drive or flight home…you will be glad you packed these.

A really stylish hat – You can take any outfit from 0 to 60 with an original and stylish hat – plus sunburns are SO passé (Mom alert: remember your sunscreen!)

Floral-print minidress – The trend of the season and hippy-ish enough for your Woodstock moment.

Jewel-tone lipstick – You can be wearing the most boring getup ever but swipe on rich coral lipstick and VOILA! You are the most on-point member of your crew.

Comfortable shoes that aren’t ugly – So we wouldn’t want you to wear orthopedic shoes with your designer frock, but heels + crowds + grass fields and your dogs will be barking. My grandma used to tell me to be good to my feet and I think you should listen to my grandma.

The lucky owner of the biggest little wristband

Rock star sunglasses – They will be in every picture from your weekend. If they are the weak link in your bag, fix it – you will regret beat shades.

Socks – Your feet are going to be dancing machines. Slather on moisturizer and throw on socks during your voyage home. They won’t be as trashed when you wake up in real life.

Now go! Have the weekend of your life! And write us to let us know how it went – we are vicariously living in the moment through you (and Jacqueline, the lucky owner of that sexy wristband). Shine on you crazy diamonds!

As a child, the dark was something to be feared, held at bay by the magic of nightlights and parents' stories. As a teenager 'after dark' represented party time and freedom from those prying parental eyes. The black is back! Are you going to run and hide or just keep on running? (We suggest the latter.)

So as you can probably gather from the lack of colorful stretchy pants, our website is currently undergoing some behind-the-scenes renovations. Does this have you down? Me too - but what better way to turn that frown upside down than a good workout with a playlist to help you battle the technology blues. By the time you've finished sweating to this bad boy, our site may just be back up and running. (Okay, not quite, but you know what we mean.)

"Meet Me Halfway" - Black Eyed Peas
Okay, so my cool factor just dropped by about 98 degrees....but if you could see my co-worker Gordon workout on the stationary bike to this ditty, you'd swear it was the hottest thing ev-a. Great for warming up!

"Black and Blue" - Miike Snow
These Swedes make every song feel like summer. Warm up to this guy before a long run or while driving home after a satisfying yoga sesh.

"Black Velveteen" - Lenny Kravitz
Our pal Lenny tries a keytar on for size - and you know a guy that can make heels and scarves look dude-ish can pull it off.

"Out Of The Blue" - Julian Casablancas
We know our website might have struck some of you by surprise, but no matter - let Julian Casablancas pump you up. Just like those worn-in groove pants, this ditty will be one of your favorites in no time at all.

"Hurricane Jane - Twelves Remix" - Black Kids
These guys from New York are SO fun live. If you get a chance to see them in concert, do it - you'll sweat so much you'll swear you're at Bikrams. Werk!

"Talk Like That" - The Presets
No, this isn't the lululemon apocalypse - but this track from the album 'Apocalypto" might have you think so. This is a wickedly great song that will get you moving in a serious way.

"I Believe In A Thing Called Love" - The Darkness
Ever seen the video for this track? Justin wears a white jumpsuit. You know what I am scared of wearing and would motivate me on the hardest run? A WHITE JUMPSUIT. I rest my case.

Happiness comes from within

"Paranoid" - Black Sabbath
Before Ozzy Osborne was just some old British dude shuffling around a big house muttering about small dogs & gardening, he was the baddest man in rock 'n' roll. This sucker will get your heart racing even if you aren't exercising.

"99 Problems" - Jay-Z
This banger off Jigga's Black Album was SO big that people literally wanted problems so they could identify with the track. In related news, counselors everywhere rejoiced.

"Black Betty" - Ram Jam
Okay, so this is a one-hit wonder...but it's AWESOME, so who cares. This tune is sure to get your temperature rising on intervals.

"Black Dog" - Led Zeppelin
Trying to push yourself up that last hill? Let Robert Plant's maniac voice scream through your headphones and drive you home.

"Everlasting Light" - The Black Keys
Stride through the end of your workout with a smile on your face thanks to this rad track. You might even just press repeat and go a little longer.

"Turn Your Lights Down Low - Remix" - Bob Marley featuring Lauryn Hill
One of the most chillin' songs ever, turn this on and bliss out - it's  perfect for unwinding and living in the moment.

want more?

• Banish darkness with last spring's colourful playlist.
• Get to know your black luon. Read about our technical fabrics here.
• Explore more than black luon. Visit your local store to see our latest gear.
• Check out how the latest renos are coming along.

We came so close to including "Dancing in the Dark"; what else do you think we missed?

What started as an entertaining facebook thread around the office has turned into a hilarious soundtrack, a big hairy audacious playlist, if you will. We're going on record here. If you can honestly say you don't own this music already, you can claim we recommended you invest in it. We won't tell.

Okay, we all know how great it is to have an iPod filled with new music. It’s even more rad if it’s filled with the latest underground & indie tunes, right? We all like to think we have our fingers on the pulse.

But on some days, you NEED those guilty pleasures, those embarrassing personal favorites that help you finish your hill intervals. These songs could damage your street cred. These songs are for headphones ONLY. These songs are too low rent to write a blog post abo…ahem.

We say there's no need to be embarrassed, even if these songs are questionable at best. They're so bad, they're good. Without further ado, without any irony, here is our No Shame Workout Playlist.

“Get Out Of My Dreams, Get Into My Car” - Billy Ocean
The King of the Caribbean wants to take you on a joyride to Love Town. Just let it happen.

“How Bizarre” - OMC
It’s not a good sign when a brand new song is already generic enough to be played in your dentist’s office.

“Jenny From The Block” - Jennifer Lopez
They just don’t make music like this anymore. Maybe because it shouldn’t have been made in the first place.

“Raise A Little Hell” - Trooper
Hesher alert! If this is on your iPod, might I remind you: it isn’t appropriate to drink light beer in your water bottle.

“Touch It” - Monifah
The person who should feel shameful is Monifah herself – homegirl borrowed my one-armed red pleather mini dress & choker twelve years ago and STILL hasn’t given it back.

“TiK ToK” - Ke$ha
I really want to not like this song. I have tried SO HARD. Anyone have any tips for Ke$ha-itis?

“Changes” - 2pac
Okay, so Tupac is rad. But Tupac sampling BRUCE HORNSBY? Um…um. That’s all I have.

“Don’t Cry For Me Argentina (Remix)” - Madonna
This song is shameful for a few reasons. First of all, it sounds like they scrounged the beat out of the Gipsy King’s trash can. Second of all, the video shows Madonna….acting. And we all know how good that is.

“I Like It” - Enrique Iglesias
This song achieves the dubious honor of being instantly cheesy. Congratulations Enrique!

“Livin’ It Up” - Ja Rule
If you are rocking out to this on your morning run, do yourself a favor and take a hard look in the mirror when you get home.

“Baby” - Justin Bieber featuring Ludacris
Does Ludacris need to make a mortgage payment? I mean really!

“Chattahoochee” -  Alan Jackson
Before you start judging – can YOU waterski in cowboy boots? I didn’t think so.

“Opposites Attract” - Paula Abdul
In the video for this song, Paula gets freaky with an animated cat. My question is, how did this happen? Did a bunch of suits sit around and go, “Paula grinding with a cartoon kitty. I like it….GREEN LIGHT!” Terrifying.

“We Didn’t Start The Fire” - Billy Joel
Ahhh, the Piano Man. You know how some music sound timeless, even 25 years later? This isn’t one of those songs.

“Cradle of Love” - Billy Idol
Another Billy. Another no-shame song. Mental note to self: do not name son ‘William.’

“Xanadu” - Olivia Newton-John
Little Miss Grease Lightning literally comes to life FROM A MURAL and rollerskates her way into an artist’s heart. You can’t make this stuff up.

“Over & Over Again” - Nelly & Tim McGraw
If this is your cool down song post-run, we can’t be friends anymore. Final answer.

want more?

• Set big hairy audacious goals to go with your new playlist. Have no shame. Go big.
• Want to look the part? Be bold prints and colours.
• Need to take it down a notch? Bring your yoga practice inside with this playlist.
• Having trouble finding time to use these playlists? We'll help.

We know you have more songs you'd add to this list. The lines are open. Fess up.

Love it or hate it, Valentine's Day is here. (Insert sighs of anticipation or disgust here.) Our resident DJs created playlists for the lovers and the haters: one for working out, one for afterward. Each is around thirty minutes. No matter how you celebrate/avoid the holiday, you're covered.

for the lovers

Work it out

"If you're a hopeless romantic like me, this playlist will get you running a smooth 5k thinking about your sweetheart.  The opening track by Robyn is my anthem this V-Day. I dare you not to smile during The Bag Raiders' "Sunlight" - it's pure gold. Enjoy!" - Andrew, educator at Rideau Centre, ON

"Indestructible" - Robyn

"Sunlight" - Bag Raiders

"Digital Love" - Daft Punk

"Find Your Love" - Drake

"Hang With Me" - Robyn

"When Love Takes Over" - David Guetta

"This Boy's In Love" - The Presets

After your run

Kick off your running shoes, hit the shower and enjoy this playlist from Alexis.

“You Make My Dreams” – Hall & Oates
"This song is pretty self explanatory: you literally make Darryl Hall’s fluffy haired dreams come true. Are you magic?"

“With You Forever” – PNAU
"Because nothing says true love like hypochondria, Luke Steele experiences lust-induced chest pains and sings about it."

“Wicked Game” – Chris Isaak
"Listen, this is an all-ages blog…but all I can say is 'hot yoga.' Ahem."

“Girls Girls Girls” – Jay-Z
"Sometime the line between hopeless romanticism and being a straight player (hollll-a!) is a blurry one. Take inspiration from the master…our pal Jay knows how to do it."

“Forbidden Love” – Madonna
"Crushing on someone off limits? Madge feels your pain and throws it over a pulsing beat perfect for running out your angst-ridden frustrations."

“The Light” – Common
"Hint to the gents: Common saying sweet nothings over a beat is a non-try hard way of getting your lady in the mood. Just do it."

“I Feel For You” – Chaka Khan
"If you look up synonyms for ‘spicy’ in the Dictionary, a sample audio track of this song plays. True story."

“Suck My Kiss” – Red Hot Chili Peppers
"Dating a bad boy and loving every minute? YEAH YOU ARE!"

for the haters

Work it out

"Obviously not everyone is happy on Valentine’s Day. These lyrics will give you extra motivation on your run. Robyn’s ‘Love Kills’ is the highlight and if you’re experiencing heartache, you probably agree. ‘You Used To Hold Me’ closes out the playlist with authority. If you fall in the 'I-loathe-Valentine's' camp, this is your anthem." - Andrew

"Heartbreaker" - MSTRKRFT

"Getting' Over You (Remix)" - David Guetta

"Love Kills" - Robyn

"Better Off As 2" - Frankmusik

"Far Away" - Cut/Copy

"You Gave Me Nothing" - Mark Ronson and the Business Intl

"Not In Love" - Crystal Castles ft. Robert Smith

"You Used To Hold Me" - Calvin Harris

After your run

Get out your arsenal of red wine and chocolates before cranking up this playlist from Alexis. Who needs a date when you have company like this?

“Foundations” – Kate Nash
"Do you know you’re relationship is doomed but don’t quite have the guts to pull the plug? Kate is your girl."

“Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now” – The Smiths
"If you are depressed, there is no one better than Steven Patrick Morrissey. Here he talks about how cool it is to walk past two people PDA-ing when you’ve just gotten dumped (hint: not awesome.)"

“Where Do You Go?” – No Mercy
"Made a romantic dinner and your partner is nowhere to be found? We’d say that’s enough to end up on the naughty list."

“Heartbeats” – The Knife
"Still choked that someone you thought you knew, wasn’t…well, the person you thought they were? Yeah, that sentence confused me too."

“What Have You Done For Me Lately?” – Janet Jackson
"Are you feeling neglected? Taken for granted? If it can happen to Janet 'my-abs-are-3-D-without-the-glasses' Jackson, it can happen to anyone."

“Momma’s Boy” – Chromeo
"Do you feel like your man’s focus is elsewhere? Girl, join the club."

“Ex-Factor” – Lauryn Hill
"Really struggling this Valentine’s Day? Pull out this gem – it’s a real bummer remix." (Editor's note: if you're tempted to just hit 'repeat' on this one, give in. I would.)

“Pieces Of What” – MGMT
"More over it than a bridge? MGMT feels your pain."

There you have it. Valentine's will be over soon so enjoy/curse it while you still can.

Meet Alexis! Her smile is one of the first things you see if you visit the Store Support Centre - so take advantage of this ice breaker!

what is something unique or surprising about you?

People are going to laugh when I say this, but I would consider myself an introvert. I am a die-hard bookworm and nothing appeals to me more than taking an afternoon to learn about a subject I am curious about – it could be anything from political history to horticulture. I have a very random and voracious appetite for knowledge. And don’t even get me started about how much I adore online search engines!

what is one of your biggest passions?

Music. To me it is the most expressive, emotive, and joyful thing in the world. Nothing beats a good concert with close friends or a long drive with a killer album.

a goal you've achieved that you're proud of?

I am proud of transitioning from the last industry I worked in to where I am today. Prior to being at lululemon, I worked managing a very high volume restaurant in downtown Vancouver. I loved the pace of the work, the quirky and entertaining people I met and worked with, and the challenges I faced everyday – not to mention, the pay was great. But I didn’t love the hours or the lack of security I felt in my role. Switching industries is a daunting challenge – you wonder if you will be any good or if you are making the right decision. In the end, however, with risks come big rewards – and I couldn’t be happier with my decision.

what do you want to be remembered for?

I want to be remembered as someone who is kind and genuine, and who knows how to laugh. Laughing is important.

how does your role elevate lululemon?

Well first of all, I feel a little bit funny talking about “my” role because our department really operates as a single unit. We are a tight little squad, us facilities ladies! We do everything from shipping to building repairs to office moves to administrative duties. We elevate the business by facilitating all of the functional components at the Store Support Centre - if the office runs like clockwork, we have made the work environment better for everyone so they can focus on our stores. We also are the first impression of the SSC and take being warm and friendly face of lululemon very seriously…because we are very serious people. Riiiiigght.

what is the scariest thing you've ever done? Are you glad you did it?

The scariest thing I’ve done is stand near the edge of the cliff at the top of the Chief hike in Squamish. I don’t mind heights – I’ve been skydiving a few times – but for some reason being near the edge of big drops gives me the creeps. I know, I’m a sissy.

what is your favourite way to sweat?

My NEW favorite way to sweat is the Dailey Method. I have always loved running but have had problems with my IT band for the last couple of years. Dailey Method does wonders for toning and stretching your muscles, and gives fabulous results without being hard on your joints. Try it – I have never been a dancer (hard to believe, I know, considering my evident grace) but one class and I was hooked. [Editor's note: Like the sound of Dailey Method? Learn more about it here]

Each Monday we introduce people from all over the company to you. Who do you want to meet next?