On the 11th of April, Montreal based singer Mona Lissa Chanda released her full-length debut Queen of Games. Best known for her captivating voice and timeless style, Mona Lissa delivers an album that feels like a personal diary and a cinematic experience.
Written and produced mostly by Mona Lissa herself with key help from veteran producer Paul Cargnello who arranged and recorded the songs in Montreal. The album is a blend of Blues, soul, R & B and a touch of Americana.
Mona Lissa grew up in the Northern Quebec, the daughter of a German mother and East Indian father. This mix of cultures combined with her love for old school classics and modern soul pop, gives her music a special flavor. Lissa has the type of voice that brings any song to life. She brings the life to old school songs, the slow emotional ballads sung by women who know exactly what heartbreak feels like. She makes every song real and relevant.
Queen of Games is a masterpiece album with 10 tracks, and the title track stands as the emotional heart of the album. It’s a slow burning song about a woman who draws people in with her charm but keeps her heart locked away. Mona Lissa’s voice is so soothing, and it drips with allure as she tells the story of this woman who plays with hearts but is scared to offer hers in return.
The music video of Queen of Games filmed at the elegant Montreal Art Center and Museum gives the perspective a flip. The song is sung from a woman’s point of view; the video follows the man who is caught in her web. It’s a visual cat and mouse game full of slow glances and in-depth meaning.
Mona Lissa began writing this album in 2022, a difficult year for her personally and still recovering from the isolation of the pandemic, she faced a personal loss. That grief sent her into herself and into her music. She poured her emotions into writing songs, using her pain to create songs that explored the complicated side of Love.
Three standout tracks; Secret Muse, Casual Affair and Queen of Games form a type of thematic trilogy. These songs build a shadowy universe where love is a high stakes game of strategy and survival. The production leans into sultry instrumentation, noir melody and lyrical ambiguity. Each song seems like a scene in a thriller with the tension simmers beneath every note.
Professional Victim is a funky, motown style tune about breaking free from toxicity. It’s full of sass
Pavlola Blues is playful with Mona Lissa teasing an old flame.
Never the man for me digs a little deeper, showing the pain of heartbreak but also the courage it takes to move on.
These songs are like late night confessions over wine with a friend who gets it.
Mona Lissa explores the mysterious side of Love with songs like Secret Muse and Casual Affair. There is a touch of sweetness in the mix.
Alone With U is a country tune about finding balance between Love and Independence.
Happy Place is joyful, hopeful and with a bouncy groove.
Queen of Games does not just show off Mona Lissa’s talent, it tells a story. You can feel it in every note and hear it in every lyric. This album is proof that Mona Lissa is here to stay. She has got everything it takes to stay on top.
This album delivered excellently and if you’re yet to listen, take a moment and enjoy every beat of this album. It’s not just a collection of songs but of great music. It’s a must listen for fans of blues, retro soul and rich storytelling.
LISTEN TO QUEEN OF GAMES
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