Montreal’s Mona Lissa Chanda returns with “Professional Victim,” a soulful, bitingly witty takedown of emotional manipulators wrapped in an irresistibly danceable Motown package. Serving as the lead single for her upcoming album Queen of Games (out spring 2025), this track is a masterclass in blending sharp social commentary with vintage-inspired pop—proving that setting boundaries can sound as liberating as a Saturday night at the Apollo.
Channeling the retro soul of Amy Winehouse and the storytelling prowess of Tracy Chapman, Mona Lissa crafts a narrative drawn from personal battles with codependency and the universal fatigue of dealing with perpetual victims. The track’s secret weapon? Paul Cargnello’s sparkling guitar work and that classic Motown rhythm section, transforming what could be a bitter pill into a sparkling, strut-worthy anthem.
Mona Lissa’s eclectic background—Quebecois upbringing, East Indian-German heritage, fine arts and neuroscience degrees, bel canto training—collides gloriously here. You hear it in the song’s DNA: the cabaret wit of Berlin, the emotional precision of a scientist, and the raw ache of Chicago blues (where she once fell in love with music at Chess Records). It’s a cocktail that makes “Professional Victim” feel both timeless and urgently modern.
The accompanying music video, shot in Montreal, plays like a dark comedy short film—our heroine finally dumping her faux-injured, guilt-tripping partner with Patsy Cline-level sass. It’s a satisfying visual metaphor for the album’s broader theme: Queen of Games promises to explore the “blues-rock and Americana” underbelly of human relationships, with Mona Lissa as both observer and protagonist.
With its Motown heartbeat, jazz-poet lyrics, and unapologetic attitude, “Professional Victim” isn’t just a song—it’s a cultural reset for the over-empathic. Mona Lissa Chanda doesn’t just sing about boundaries; she builds them in 4/4 time. Connect With Mona Lissa Chanda on Instagram and Spotify
