Mona Lissa Chanda

Mona Lissa Chanda is a Montreal-based singer-songwriter who blends the sophistication of timeless classics with the allure of catchy pop hooks. She is inspired by the likes of Amy Winehouse, Tracy Chapman, Melody Gardot, Sade, and Lake Street Dive. Drawing from her own life experience, Mona Lissa writes torch songs about self-discovery and the longing for love and connection. While she often explores the dark side of human nature, her songs are imbued with wit, charm, and a nostalgic feel. Ultimately, she loves life with all its imperfections and embraces the opportunity to witness reality as a modern woman. 

Mona Lissa’s background is filled with delicious paradoxes that fuel her creativity. She was born and raised in the northern town of Sept-Îles, Quebec to immigrant parents. Her father was East Indian and worked as an engineer in the mining industry. Her German mother was an artist and homemaker who introduced her to jazz, blues, and Berlin Cabaret. From a young age she was immersed in French Canadian culture, while savouring the cultural riches of Europe and Asia during her travels. Mona Lissa’s educational background includes academic degrees in fine art and neurosciences, along with training in vocal jazz and Italian Bel Canto singing. In the mid-2000s, she lived in Chicago, where a visit to the historic Chess Records studio and the vibrant local blues scene inspired her to embark on her path as a singer-songwriter. 

In 2014, Mona Lissa recorded her debut EP entitled Tip Of My Tongue in collaboration with Juno Award-winning sound engineer Robert Heaney (collaborator of Cirque du Soleil and Patrick Watson). Critics praised the haunting folk-pop release, comparing it to Sarah Brightman’s acclaimed album Dive. In 2017, she teamed up again with Heaney and Raphael Rosenwald (early collaborator of The Dears and Arcade Fire) on her sophomore EP, Oracle. Mona Lissa's lilting voice carries remarkable range reminiscent of her idols Blossom Dearie, Patsy Cline, and Sarah Vaughan. Over the past decade, she has graced the stage at renowned festivals including Montreal International Jazz Festival, and POP Montreal, showcasing her ability to connect with diverse audiences through her versatile and engaging performances. 

Mona Lissa’s latest song and video, Professional Victim, released on January 31, 2025, is a celebration of healthy boundary-setting with a catchy Motown groove. It is the lead single from her first full-length album, Queen Of Games, released on April 11, 2025. Produced in collaboration with veteran Montreal troubadour Paul Cargnello, the album explores her love of blues-rock and classic soul/R&B, with a tip of the hat to Americana.

Mona Lissa is also a trained neuroscientist. Driven by her dual passion for music and sciences, she conducted research on the neurochemistry of music and the effects of sex, drugs, and rock n’ roll on the brain with her scientific mentor Dr. Daniel J. Levitin, the New York Times best-selling author of This Is Your Brain On Music. Recently, Dr. Levitin acknowledged Mona Lissa’s research contributions in his latest best-selling book entitled I Heard There Was A Secret Chord: Music As Medicine.