Madame Psychosis is a five-piece alt rock and indie pop band from Toronto. Members include singer Michelle Mondesir, guitar players Bret McCaffrey and Paul Silvestri, drummer Jaina Tharakan, and bass player Giovanni Paola.

The quintet came together in late 2014 after a conversation at a wedding, where a mutual friend of some of the eventual band members suggested a jam session. This very unlikely jam session resulted in what became Madame Psychosis. Nine years later, the band continues to write and perform original music, appearing at iconic venues across Toronto, including at the legendary Opera House and the Horseshoe Tavern, and several music festivals, including multiple appearances at Canadian Music Week, where they cracked Drop Out Entertainment’s Top Picks list. Their run has also been highlighted by a number of TV performances, including two appearances on the nationally televised segment of Global’s The Morning Show. 

Though their sound is often compared to Metric or a cross between the Black Keys and Alabama Shakes, the band cites a number of musical influences from an array of genres. These artists include Whitney Houston, Freddie Mercury, The Smiths, Arctic Monkeys, Spoon, Wilco, Pearl Jam, Smashing Pumpkins, Radiohead and The War on Drugs.

The band first made waves with their self-titled debut album, released in June of 2017. Alan Cross, the internationally syndicated host of The Ongoing History of New Music, selected the single “Space Motorcycle” for his weekly Top 11 Playlist in August of 2017. The album was also featured on 94.9 The Rock FM’s emerging artist spotlight, Generation Next, in May of 2018.

Coming off the heels of this positive reception, Madame Psychosis released their sophomore album, Survivor, in 2019. In their album review, RX Music says, “the band sound better than ever, with memorable hooks that reward repeated listens, and an elevated chemistry fans will appreciate.” LA-based Buzz Music says, “The musicianship on this project is consistently flawless, whether the moment is high energy or more of a subtle, intentional gathering of layers.” Most notably, the single “Kapow” drew the attention and acclaim of several writers and playlist curators from around the world. Buzz Music calls it a “heart-dropping anthem”. Lefuturewave refers to it as “a brilliant piece of music”.

The band is now turning their attention to writing and recording their third record, which will be released in fall 2024. You can find Madame Psychosis on all major streaming platforms.

Photo credit: Tomas B Photography