Cartel Madras is sharing the official video for “Dream Girl Concept,” a new single produced by Jide (Toronto, ON) and Tyris White (Waco, TX), and is available now on DSPs in Canada from Royal Mountain Records and the rest of the world through Sub Pop. 

Cartel Madras’s Eboshi and Contra, who directed the video, had this to say, ”In 2021, so much seems illusory or bound to sensations pursued through technology. ‘Dream Girl Concept’ is a moody, lush, cyber-funk letter to those feelings. Propelled by vaporwave, house, and hyper pop sensibilities, ‘Dream Girl Concept’ had us experimenting in a sonic and visual landscape that is purely indulgent. 

“We have been writing to Tyris White beats for years, so it was amazing to get the chance to work with him for this project. We also teamed up again with Jide, producer of ‘WORKING,’ who has mastered the art of building atmosphere.

“The video has Eboshi and Contra grooving as AI androids with fluctuating battery life. An outro cameo from Calgary Queen Desmond ‘Dayna’ Douglas juxtaposes the futuristic sounds and takes us into a lingering, glamorously vintage moment.”

Cartel Madras partnered with Finesse, an AI-powered brand, for the video’s outfit selection.  

“Dream Girl Concept” is Cartel Madras’s second single of 2021, and follows the release of “DRIFT” released in January 2021. The tracks are from their forthcoming project The Serpent and The Tiger, the third installment of the Project Goonda trilogy (which includes 2018’s Trapistan and 2019’s Age of the Goonda) due out later this year on Royal Mountain Records/Sub Pop.
 
What people are saying about Cartel Madras:
“They’ve got an absolutely wicked flow — think M.I.A. meets Cardi B. Hints of traditional Tamil music are sprinkled throughout.” [“Goonda Gold”] - Stereogum
 
“Cartel Madras are smashing barrier musically and are sure to blow your mind with their uniqueness.” [Age of the Goonda] - CLASH
 
“Full of raw, powerful, nonchalant energy”  [“Goonda Gold”] - Gal-Dem
 
“Age of the Goonda is an invigorating five-track blast…More, please.” - The Wire
 
“Comprised of six tracks, the EP possesses layered bass lines pumped with adrenaline, a range of Indian classical instruments weaved in and hooks that stay in your brain for days.” [Age of the Goonda] - NME
 
“Age of the Goonda provides an electrifying burst of the duo’s live show energy in concentrated form.” - Loud & Quiet
 
“In pop analogy, this hip-hop duo comprising Calgary-bred, Chennai-born siblings Bhagya and Priya Ramesh is somewhat like a Tamil Pulp Fiction-meets-MIA. With a carousel of bad-ass, no-fucks-given, brown girl anthems, Cartel Madras is brought to life by two sisters who don’t shy of braggadocio (you can’t miss their stack of gold jewelry) as they spout songs about feminism, empowerment and inclusivity.” [“12 New Musicians Set to Breakthrough in 2020”] - Vogue India