Miss Monique - Biography and discography, all albums and songs

Miss Monique is a Ukrainian DJ, music producer, and founder of the Siona Records label. The artist’s real name is Olesia Arkusha. She gained international recognition through the long-form video-set series Mind Games and MiMo Weekly, and later consolidated her success with original releases on Siona Records, Cercle Records, Anjunabeats, Armada Music, Drumcode, and Tomorrowland Music.

Her sound is primarily based on progressive house and melodic techno. Miss Monique combines extended melodic development, a dense club groove, trance-influenced harmonies, and harder techno rhythms. Her sets are rarely constructed as a sequence of individual hits: the tracks are connected into a gradually unfolding narrative in which the energy continues to rise throughout the performance.

The project’s international growth is connected to a combination of three areas of work that remains relatively unusual within electronic music: regular video mixes, an independent production discography, and the consistent development of her own label.

Childhood and Move to Kyiv

Olesia Arkusha was born in Kirovohrad, the city now known as Kropyvnytskyi. She spent the first eight years of her life surrounded by a large family before moving to Kyiv with her parents. The Ukrainian capital became the place where she discovered club culture and electronic music.

As a teenager, Olesia began attending clubs in Kyiv and listening to local DJs perform. At first, she was interested mainly in the atmosphere of nightlife, but her attention gradually shifted toward the construction of DJ sets: track selection, long transitions, and the management of the audience’s mood.

Progressive house became particularly important to her. She was drawn to its extended melodies, emotional climaxes, and the opportunity to develop a musical theme over several minutes without being restricted by a standard song structure.

First Performances

Around 2010, an acquaintance who worked at a nightclub allowed Olesia to practice on professional DJ equipment during the daytime. According to her recollections, she learned the basic principles of mixing within a few hours and soon began playing warm-up sets at Kyiv’s Prime Club.

Opening parties became an important professional school. A warm-up DJ should not immediately use the most energetic tracks: the task is to fill the space gradually while taking into account the time, the size of the audience, and the musical program of the artists performing later. This experience would later be reflected in Miss Monique’s characteristic dramatic structure.

She worked at Prime Club for approximately two years. At the same time, she began performing in other Ukrainian cities and made her first trips abroad. The stage name Miss Monique was chosen as a short title that would be easy for an international audience to understand.

Radio Intense and Mind Games

In spring 2013, Ukrainian DJs Spartaque and Burzhuy launched the online project Radio Intense. Its broadcasts were not limited to audio: performances were streamed on video, and listeners could communicate with the artists during the program.

The first episode of Miss Monique’s show Mind Games aired on June 24, 2013. The title accurately reflected the structure of her sets: smooth changes in mood, an alternation between calm and tense sections, and a gradual movement toward a climax. More than 80 episodes were recorded as part of the series.

Publishing the programs on YouTube allowed her to reach audiences beyond Ukraine. The video mixes spread gradually, without a short-lived viral campaign. Viewers returned to the episodes because of their extended format, detailed track lists, and consistent release schedule.

Mind Games became not merely a promotional supplement to her live career, but an independent part of the Miss Monique project. Many listeners first discovered the artist through a home screen, long before they had the opportunity to see her in a club or at a festival.

MiMo Weekly

In 2018, Olesia launched a new series titled MiMo Weekly. At first, the episodes were genuinely released every week and broadcast from her home studio. As her touring schedule expanded, the frequency changed, but the series continued to develop.

MiMo Weekly had a more direct presentation. Instead of showing a large stage, the camera focused on the DJ working in the studio, allowing viewers to follow the track selection, mixing process, and the artist’s reaction to the music.

The home-studio format was later expanded with recordings at outdoor locations. Sets were filmed in Ibiza, Bali, Tulum, Miami, Portugal, and other places. Miss Monique selected the music for each specific setting, taking into account the landscape, time of day, and visual rhythm of the filming.

By 2024, her YouTube channel had surpassed one million subscribers. One of the anniversary Siona Records sets, recorded in Ibiza, received more than 20 million views.

Beginning of Her Production Career

Miss Monique began creating her own music in 2015. Early works include No Fear and Colors in Your Eyes, released through Freegrant Music.

These first productions already contained elements of her future style: emotional chords, extended breakdowns, atmospheric synthesizers, and a gradual increase in tension. At the same time, her early material was closer to classic progressive house than to the melodic techno that would later become an important part of her music.

Collaborations with Max Freegrant, Pavel Khvaleev, Two Are, Cherry (UA), and other producers followed in subsequent years. Her discography developed more slowly than her video catalog: during much of her early career, Miss Monique was perceived primarily as a DJ and creator of popular mixes.

Siona Records

In 2019, Miss Monique founded her own label, Siona Records. Its original purpose was to support young Ukrainian producers who found it difficult to present their music to an international audience. The catalog later expanded geographically, and Siona began working with artists from different countries.

The label is closely connected to its founder’s video projects. New tracks are regularly tested in Mind Games, MiMo, and live sets before or shortly after their official release. This approach allows the releases to exist not in isolation, but within a recognizable musical environment.

The Ukrainian scene occupies a special place in Siona’s policy. Every March, the label devotes part of its release program to Ukrainian producers. Miss Monique personally listens to submitted demos, which can number several hundred per week.

Only a year after its foundation, Siona was already among Beatport’s notable progressive-house labels. Over time, the brand expanded into its own showcases and events during Amsterdam Dance Event and in other cities.

Land of Sunshine and the Development of Her Own Sound

In 2021, Miss Monique released the Land of Sunshine EP through Purified Records. The release demonstrated a more mature production approach: instead of an abrupt festival impact, the focus was placed on gradual melodic development, a deep bass line, and consistent control of tension.

Other works from this period include Train of Thought, Way of the Wind, Loona, Raindrop, and the collaboration Rider with Pavel Khvaleev and PARAFRAME.

These releases confirmed her transition from a popular creator of video sets into an independent producer. Miss Monique’s music began appearing regularly in progressive-house charts and in the sets of artists who had influenced her early musical development.

The Period After 2022

After the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Olesia was forced to leave Ukraine. She later settled in Lisbon, continuing to tour and using her international performances to draw attention to the war.

Her career growth in 2022 coincided with a difficult personal period. It was during this time that her touring schedule expanded sharply and the audience of her online sets had the opportunity to see the artist on major international stages.

In August 2022, Miss Monique participated in a charity event in Vilnius dedicated to Ukraine’s Independence Day. The project aimed to raise funds and remind international audiences that the war was continuing.

Support for Ukraine is reflected both in the activities of Siona Records and in her live performances. Ukrainian identity is not used as a superficial visual element: it is connected to practical support for producers and charitable initiatives.

Cercle and Concorde

In October 2022, Miss Monique recorded a set for Cercle at the Montreal Biosphere, a geodesic dome created for the 1967 World Expo. The recording, lasting more than an hour and a half, was officially released as a DJ mix.

During the performance, she played the then-unreleased composition Concorde. Its official release followed on January 19, 2023, through Cercle Records.

The title refers to the supersonic passenger aircraft, while the musical structure is designed as a gradual ascent: a restrained opening develops into a broad synthesizer theme and a powerful climax.

Concorde became one of Miss Monique’s most recognizable solo works. In 2026, the composition earned her first gold certification, presented by Cercle Records during Cercle Festival.

Molfar, City Boy, and Subterranean

In 2023, Miss Monique significantly expanded her presence on international labels.

The Molfar EP was released through Siona Records. Its title refers to the Carpathian tradition of folk healers and mystics. The release included Molfar and Tiama.

The composition City Boy was released on Drumcode. The track presented a harder side of the artist: dense drums, accelerated development, and less emphasis on a soft progressive atmosphere.

The collaboration Subterranean with AVIRA and vocalist LUNA appeared on Anjunabeats. The composition combined emotional vocals, trance-influenced harmony, and contemporary melodic-techno production.

Other releases from this period include The Morning After with Paul Thomas, the Rebirth / The Connection EP, and an official remix of Ringo by Lufthaus.

Veselka and the 2024 Releases

In 2024, Miss Monique released Veselka. The Ukrainian word “veselka” means “rainbow.” The composition had long been used as an opening track in the artist’s sets before its official release on Siona Records.

Bloom at Night was released through Tomorrowland Music, combining a dense club rhythm with an emotional synthesizer line. The release marked Miss Monique’s debut on the festival’s label.

The composition Look at You was released through Interstellar Recordings, which is associated with Insomniac. It features a more direct festival sound while retaining Miss Monique’s characteristic gradual development.

She recorded the vocal track Every Breath with braev and presented an updated version of Moby’s composition Feeling So Real with the artist himself. The release appeared on Siona Records on October 30, 2024.

That same year, she produced an official remix of David Guetta and OneRepublic’s I Don’t Wanna Wait.

DJ Awards Recognition

In October 2024, Miss Monique received a DJ Award in the Breakthrough category. The ceremony returned after a four-year break and took place in Ibiza.

The award did not mark the beginning of her career: by that time, the artist had already been working for more than a decade. In this case, “breakthrough” reflected her transition from a large digital audience and the progressive-house scene to a permanent presence at major international festivals and club venues.

In 2025, Miss Monique won the DJ Award in the Progressive/Melodic House category.

Nomacita and the 2025 Releases

In January 2025, Miss Monique, GENESI, and Carl Bee released Nomacita. The composition topped the Beatport Melodic House & Techno chart and became one of the artist’s largest club releases.

It was followed by:

• Million Miles Away with P.O.U and Susie Ledge;
• the solo composition Magnet;
• Is Anyone There? with HRRTZ and Jantine;
• Rain with Poppy Baskcomb;
• the Rollin’ EP with Glowal;
• Lost on a Dancefloor with Glowal.

Her official catalog was also expanded by Miss Monique’s remix of David Guetta and Sia’s Beautiful People.

These works demonstrate the expansion of her production range. Alongside instrumental progressive house, her discography began to include more complete vocal compositions designed both for club sets and independent listening.

Residency at Hï Ibiza

In summer 2025, Miss Monique received her own thirteen-week residency in the Club Room at Hï Ibiza. She became the first Ukrainian female DJ to lead a regular club program in Ibiza.

The artist curated the guest lineup herself, inviting both established producers and representatives of Siona Records. The program included Agents of Time, Joris Voorn, Kölsch, Nora En Pure, 8Kays, and other performers.

The success of the first season led to the residency being extended. In 2026, Miss Monique returned to the Club Room with a weekly program running from June through September. Guests during the second season included Adam Beyer, HI-LO, Kevin de Vries, Nora En Pure, Benny Benassi, and Siona artists.

DJ Mag Top 100 DJs

In 2024, Miss Monique ranked 141st in DJ Mag’s extended Next 50 list, so it would be incorrect to claim that she was already in the main Top 100 at that time.

In 2025, the artist entered the main DJ Mag Top 100 DJs ranking for the first time, debuting at number 75. Her primary genres were listed as progressive house and melodic techno, while her YouTube video performances were identified as a major factor in her international growth.

The ranking is based on public voting and primarily reflects popularity, audience size, and touring recognition. Nevertheless, her first appearance in the Top 100 coincided with an important professional period that included her own Ibiza residency, a DJ Awards victory, and a series of successful production releases.

The 2026 Period

In January 2026, Miss Monique released Blue Moon Factory. The collaboration Rajada with Agents of Time followed in March, while Hot Sauce, created with Kapuchon and GLZ, appeared in May. The catalog was later expanded with Ghosts, recorded with Nicolas Taboada and Franco BA.

At the same time, the artist continued her second residency at Hï Ibiza, performed at Ultra Music Festival Miami, and returned to Tomorrowland.

The year’s main live project was the audiovisual show Biorhythm. It premiered on July 17, 2026, on Tomorrowland’s Freedom Stage. The program was designed as an integrated interaction between music, lighting, screen graphics, and stage dramaturgy.

Biorhythm marked a new stage in her career: Miss Monique moved from a traditional festival DJ set toward an original format in which the visual component was planned in advance around the musical development of the program.

Musical Style

Miss Monique describes her sound as soft, harmonious, and groove-driven. Progressive house remains its foundation, supplemented by melodic techno, trance, and harder club-oriented electronic music.

Her music is characterized by:

• extended melodic development;
• deep and steady bass;
• the gradual addition of instrumental layers;
• emotional vocal parts;
• climaxes that emerge after a long development;
• a transition from calm progressive house toward more energetic techno.

The term deep house may apply to some of the softer sections of her sets, but it is not her principal genre definition. Progressive house and melodic techno occupy the central position in her discography.

Miss Monique retains a connection to the classic progressive tradition of John Digweed, Sasha, and Paul Oakenfold, while using the modern density of sound and higher tempo characteristic of the 2020s festival scene.

Approach to DJ Sets

The order of tracks plays an important role in Miss Monique’s performances. She does not attempt to use the most recognizable material immediately, but gradually increases the tempo, bass density, and emotional tension.

The program depends on the venue. Melodic progressive house may dominate outdoor video sets, while the artist more often uses faster and harder tracks at festivals. This adaptability is connected to her early experience playing warm-up sets, where careful attention to the audience’s condition was essential.

Unreleased tracks also occupy a special place. New Siona Records productions and Miss Monique’s own demos often appear in her sets long before their official release. The audience’s reaction becomes part of the final development process.

Selected Discography

Early Works

• No Fear — 2015;
• Colors in Your Eyes — 2016;
• I Need U — with Max Freegrant;
• Why — with Max Freegrant;
• Tran — 2018;
• Timelapse — 2019.

Main Releases

• Raindrop — 2020;
• Land of Sunshine — 2021;
• Train of Thought — 2021;
• Way of the Wind — 2021;
• Electric — with ASHER SWISSA and SANDHAUS, 2022;
• Concorde — 2023;
• Molfar — 2023;
• City Boy — 2023;
• Subterranean — with AVIRA and LUNA, 2023;
• The Morning After — with Paul Thomas, 2023;
• Veselka — 2024;
• Bloom at Night — 2024;
• Look at You — 2024;
• Every Breath — with braev, 2024;
• Feeling So Real 2024 — with Moby;
• Nomacita — with GENESI and Carl Bee, 2025;
• Million Miles Away — with P.O.U and Susie Ledge, 2025;
• Magnet — 2025;
• Is Anyone There? — with HRRTZ and Jantine, 2025;
• Rain — with Poppy Baskcomb, 2025;
• Rollin’ — with Glowal, 2025;
• Blue Moon Factory — 2026;
• Rajada — with Agents of Time, 2026;
• Hot Sauce — with Kapuchon and GLZ, 2026;
• Ghosts — with Nicolas Taboada and Franco BA, 2026.

Selected Remixes

• Sied van Riel — Rush;
• BLOND:ISH, Darmon, Eran Hersh, and Madonna — Sorry;
• Lufthaus — Ringo;
• David Guetta and OneRepublic — I Don’t Wanna Wait;
• David Guetta and Sia — Beautiful People.

Miss Monique represents a generation of electronic artists for whom video platforms became not an addition to a club career, but an independent stage. Mind Games and MiMo Weekly allowed her to build an international audience before she began appearing regularly at the largest festivals.

Her career, however, did not remain limited to the role of a popular mix creator. Consistent work on her own music, the creation of Siona Records, releases on leading labels, DJ Awards recognition, and Hï Ibiza residencies established Miss Monique as an independent producer and curator.

The distinctive feature of her journey is its gradual development. Approximately fifteen years passed between her first performances at Prime Club and her debut in the DJ Mag Top 100 DJs. During that period, Olesia Arkusha transformed a small online radio show into an international project that includes a discography, her own label, a video catalog with millions of views, an Ibiza residency, and an original audiovisual show.

Miss Monique holds an important place in contemporary Ukrainian electronic music not because of one successful track, but because of the complete system built around the project: video sets, production work, Siona Records, and consistent support for new artists.