TGIF! It’s been one of those weeks for me. You know, those weeks. If my week was on the big screen, the soundtrack would probably be rated R. When life gets crazy, music is my therapy. And most often, India Arie is my therapist.

Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life. ~Berthold Auerbach

I’m drawn by her voice and held by her lyrics. Her range is amazing. I’ve seen her in concert a few times and have yet to be disappointed. The last time I saw her was at the Strathmore in Bethesda. She was working on a cd with Israeli singer Idan Raichel. They toured a select number of cities to introduce their collaboration and build anticipation for the release of their project, Open Door.

So picture this, I sit down in the concert hall. To the left of me is an elderly Jewish couple. To the right of me is a group of dolled-up twenty-something African American women. I saw braids and yarmulkes, boots and long skirts, grandmas and b-boys. It was the most eclectic gathering I had ever witnessed. (Maybe India should start a conversation with her barista about music as a tool for peaceful race relations.) When the music started, the crowd swayed, cried, and sang with one voice-in English and in Hebrew. It was enchanting. It was healing. It was holy.

India talked about the Open Door initiative at a TED talk.

So, who are your go-to artists? Your musical therapists? When your life needs theme music, which songs do you play?