While many artists claim a lifelong obsession with music and an upbringing that supported it, Miss Monique fell in love with music organically during her teenage years in her home country of Ukraine.



The Siona Records label boss and rising progressive house star didn't come from a musical family, and her tight-knit friend group wasn't particularly artistic. When she was old enough to finally drop into her hometown's club and underground scene, however, she met an inspiring group of influential people in electronic music who took her in and helped her fall in love with the culture.



An early mix from Miss Monique.


Progressive house was Miss Monique's first love, and she aspired to learn how to mix the hypnotizing genre. One of her friends offered to teach her how to DJ in her first year of club life. Only ten years later, Monique has managed to land performance slots at renowned events like Tomorrowland, EDC Orlando, Seismic Dance Event, Arcadia Festival, Cercle, and more.









Nine years ago, she debuted her Mind Games podcast on Radio Intense's YouTube channel, plunging her deep into streaming long before it was en vogue. It's been one of the most fruitful forms of promotion for her. Now her channel boasts 576k subscribers, all thanks to her transformative, captivating mixes.




"I started playing at the clubs way before my YouTube podcast days. My first DJ gig was awful if I'm going to be honest. I ​​didn't have much time to practice beforehand. I was so nervous and it overtook me," Monique told Gray Area in a recent Spotlight interview. "I'm just happy that people didn't really record and post sets online and it was just my time for me to let my fears go and perform in front of a crowd for the first time. It was a crowd of about 300 people. I'm still learning. I'm a firm believer in continuing to learn and advance your skills even when others view you as a professional or expert."

















How Miss Monique Fell In Love With Dance Music

Ukrainian musical mastermind and Siona Records founder Miss Monique is arguably one of electronic music's leading artists at the moment. She is globally recognized for her one-of-a-kind, mind-altering soundscapes that intertwine mesmerizing progressive house notes with electrifying melodic techno synths in the most alluring manner. But what makes her truly stand apart from the rest?






Unlike many DJs and producers today who rose to the top by producing rather than DJing, Miss Monique connected with listeners on a much deeper level. Instead of releasing an extensive discography across various streaming platforms, she cultivated a loyal fanbase by unveiling her spin on classic radio mixes via livestreamed YouTube podcasts.




From the get-go, she’s been consistent with her weekly podcast streams. Through each astounding production, she showcases her glistening artistic persona in full force, allowing her fans to get to know her more intimately despite being apart physically. By deciding to take on such a wholehearted creative pursuit, she managed to build a massive YouTube community in no time.









Miss Monique’s YouTube journey ignited with her appearance on her Mind Games podcast on Radio Intense, a channel dedicated to streaming content from a global network of DJs. She then migrated this movement to her own channel and introduced her MiMo Weekly Podcast series. During the peak of the pandemic, her live sets were already gathering thousands of progressive house addicts online, with recorded streams reaching millions of views. Now, her MiMo livestreams attract millions of viewers immediately upon release, an achievement for which she’s eternally grateful.




Amidst the chaos of the pandemic back in 2020 and the saddening ongoing situation in her home country, Miss Monique instills a sense of hope and inspiration in listeners on every corner of the globe. In return, the tight-knit community she’s gathered on YouTube also inspires her. Her viewers provide her with “an incredible charge of energy and positivity” when she communicates with them via the video platform.






Despite her abundant touring schedule, Miss Monique never fails to delight fans with extraordinary live sets recorded from breathtaking locations like the windswept cliffs of Tulum, the bucolic forests of Ukraine, and a historic castle on a Turkish island. Today, the rising musician has over half a million subscribers on YouTube alone, which speaks to how her matchless musical talent and authentic artistic endeavors are bound to move mountains and last a lifetime.




“It’s funny, I actually went on YouTube a few days ago and saw that my first video was posted eight years ago, which is crazy,” she told Gray Area in a recent Spotlight interview. “People accepted this idea from the moment I launched it, and the sense of community built around it has been so strong ever since. Every stream feels like a small virtual festival in a way. There’s just something special about having 3,000-plus people watching the live streams and getting to chat with them online. I love this aspect of my career so I can connect with my audience and listeners this way.”








How Miss Monique's Live Mixtapes Made Her an International Sensation

Gray Area founder Michael Julian Kovadlo discusses the launch of Debut, a new event series aimed at creating value for the entire dance music community.




No single person or descriptor captures the breadth and beauty of the house music community. For a relatively young genre, born in Chicago some 40-odd years ago, house has permeated many corners of the planet in less than half a century.




House is a feeling. It speaks to the soul. Our community is a vibrant, vast, and wonderfully diverse tapestry woven together under the sonic banner of the genre that we love.




Gray Area’s mission has always been to unite the international house music community, bringing together all its sub-genres and sub-cultures to unify the dance floor. In doing so, creating an authentic, sustainable, and close-knit global house music community means building an ecosystem of value for everyone. From promoters to venues, fans to artists. All from the ground-up.




So, we’ve launched a new venture to help us further that mission.




Brought to you by Gray Area, Debut is a new series that expands upon our commitment to creating an even more exciting and curious community. The concept? Debut will bring established and up-and-coming artists to new cities they have never performed in or headlined. It will help expand their fan base and, in turn, allow fans to discover some of the most unique and energizing artists making a name for themselves worldwide.




Why are we investing our efforts in launching this series? Because we’ve seen the beauty, symbiosis, and immense value created when the house music community comes together and opens itself to collaboration.




Debut, by design, is meant for discovery. It’s a timeless concept. An artist always remembers their first time playing in a new market. And fans often remember the first time they see a new artist live who they’ll eventually come to love.




I’ve been working in the music industry, helping “debut” artists for over 25 years. I still vividly remember the raw energy of the dancefloor for Gabriel & Dresden’s first big show in New York at Club Spirit in 2005. Or, in 2001, when Tiësto placed a DJ booth in the middle of the dancefloor at Exit and took the crowd on a powerful journey, culminating with his remix of Sarah McLachlan’s “Silence.” I was fortunate to be a part of the organizing team for these, and many other shows throughout the years. Besides a long list of artists we’ve introduced to new fans, we were also honored to be trusted debuting the very first proper editions of event brands in the U.S, including our beloved elrow and Awakenings.




I believe that exposing people to new experiences and music is just as exciting and relevant today as it was in the 2000s and 2010s—and it creates value for everyone involved.




First and foremost, Debut is a vessel for artists and venues to take risks and experiment. Artists and their teams sometimes prioritize booking shows at “soft ticket” venues (venues with a natural and consistent audience), only touring to new cities and playing at new venues when there is a guaranteed crowd to fill the show. Debut, backed by the power of the Gray Area network, creates an ecosystem of support that will help catalyze and cross-pollinate creative talent in new cities.




Secondly, Debut provides a unique value proposition for “hard ticket” venues that may not have as naturally sticky of a fan base. The more first-time artists a venue can book and sell out, the more its natural fan base will grow—bolstering its reputation, helping sell more tickets, and building a broader and stronger base that helps the venue fill out its event calendar.




This is the intrinsic value of Debut. It’s not a marketing tactic or arbitrary name, it’s core to who we are at Gray Area. I genuinely believe that when you bring new experiences and artists to new cities, it matters. By helping artists find new fans, we are building a bigger house music ecosystem for all.




Though we’re just now formalizing the Debut concept, Gray Area has already been debuting artists in new cities this year, including Miss Monique and Illyus & Barrientos. Over the next three months, we have upcoming Debut shows in New York with incredible artists like SHIMZA, Jaguar, PARTIBOI69, Shermanology, and a tastemaking Dutch label, PIV Records. We plan to collaborate with our friends in other markets to bring Debut to many cities around the world.




Today, it’s hard to imagine a world where everyone “wins.” Venues launch new parties weekly. Promoters fight over ticket sales. DJs jockey for a bigger font size on the flyer. But as the saying goes, a rising tide lifts all boats. We must remember what the dance music community has always been about: unity.




When we build a bigger dance floor, everyone wins.

[Op-Ed] Building a Bolder and More Vibrant House Music Ecosystem, For All

The women of progressive house and melodic techno are a formidable bunch. Not only are they inspired, but they’re innovative, evocative, and impressively industrious. These women are from all over the world and come from a menagerie of influence and inspiration. If it were possible, we’d celebrate every single one of them.




The 11 women on our list are an inspiration to fellow females and all burgeoning young producers in the genre. Between the lot of them, they’ve graced the biggest festival stages in the world, released magnificent music on the industry’s biggest labels, and made a name for themselves doing what they love. Let’s hear it for the girls.




1. Miss Monique

The eclectic mix of techno, trance, and progressive house that Miss Monique creates has racked up a severe online fanbase. The producer turned to her YouTube channel through the pandemic to connect with fans and play music. There, her Livestream sets have racked up millions of hits. She also has a fan-favorite podcast, Mind Games, where listeners are treated to a fresh DJ set every month.




2. Gioli and Assia

As two multi-faceted, creative women, Giolì & Assia started as an artist/manager duo. Assia was the practical, get-it-done accomplice to Giolì’s burgeoning sound as a DJ and producer. After opening their label, Diesis Records, and finally landing on a clear direction forward as the melodic techno / electro-pop duo Giolì & Assia. Their music is often flavored with a bit of the Middle East, adding hand pans, steel drums, and other fun instruments.






3. Korolova

Born in Kyiv, Olga Korolova is a rising superstar in melodic techno. Her visually stunning YouTube videos and intimate performances have earned her a mass of dedicated fans and critical acclaim. Melodic techno is a somewhat new direction for Ukranian artist who started her career in EDM. She feels that she's truly found her dance music calling now, evidenced by her domination of the club charts and support from industry luminaries. She even recently went back to back with Gordo on one of her livestreams.




4. Maya Jane Coles

Maya Jane Coles is usually involved in every aspect of her work. From writing, production, engineering, mixing, and even cover design. She has a vision. The London-based producer / DJ has collected a staggering three million followers on Soundcloud, 20+ magazine covers, and countless worldwide fans thanks to her effortlessly chic take on house and techno.




5. Sinca

Sinca has a multicultural and vastly artistic background. The Montreal native is a fast-emerging DJ and producer whose already been named a rising star in her field. Her debut release, the instrumental progressive house track “Mancora,” was picked up by UK label and global tastemaker Anjunabeats.




6. Anfisa Letyago

Anfisa Letyago debuted on the iconic Dutch label Spinnin’ Records in 2016 with “Stop Talking.” Her style is a mix between hard-hitting melodic techno and deep house grooves. In 2021, she officially launched her label, N:S:DA. Toss in a BBC Radio 1 Residency, an official Moby remix, and a digital Mixmag cover, and it’s apparent Anfisa is here to stay.




7. Giorgia Angiuli

Giorgia Angiuli is a classically trained musician, composer, and multi-instrumentalist from Italy. Through her solo productions, she moves seamlessly between techno, house, and electro-pop. She’s also a big fan of toys. In addition to her dreamy vocals, during her live sets, she uses a theremin, toy flute, sax, trumpets, and just about any instrumental toy she can get her hands on.




8. Eli & Fur

This London-based duo created a truly mesmerizing sound. Eli & Fur marry mysteriously moody melodies with evocative vocals and cascading synths with a flair for dark, emotive dance anthems. With a steady stream of releases on their own NYX Music and seminal imprints like Anjunadeep and Sony RCA, they’ll undoubtedly continue to mesmerize dancefloors for years to come.




9. Dinka

Tamara Hunkeler, better known by her stage name Dinka, describes her sound as “Multicultural Dance Music.” The Swiss DJ taps influence from world music to add to her uplifting brand of progressive house. From 2007 - 2017 she couldn’t be stopped, snagging deals with both Anjunabeats and A State of Trance. Though we haven’t heard much from her since then, she’s still earned a well-deserved spot at the top.






10. Eleonora

The genre palette of Eleonora almost reads like a drink menu: dark pop, cold wave, downtempo, and trip-hop. And much like a good bartender, she blends it all seamlessly together. Her chill variety of techno lends itself well to her sultry voice, as apparent in tracks like “Awake.” Besides her experimental electro, she’s also fronted several inspired jazz projects.



10 Women of Progressive House and Melodic Techno

Ukrainian producer and progressive house DJ Miss Monique launched her record label — Siona Records, in 2019 to support the growth of aspiring progressive artists. In June of 2020, the label became one of the Top 10 best-selling progressive house labels on Beatport.



Here are five songs that best define the sounds of the outstanding Siona Records.




Miss Monique, Anima - Eclipse





Miss Monique released the superb single “Eclipse” alongside Anima—a spine-tingling track that builds in emotional intensity. The drums are rooted and rolling, with thunderous claps bringing drama and a mournful vocal layering in some pain. The melodies are, of course, well designed and broad, with cosmic energy that transports you to another world.




Silverpanda - Acid or Techno

DJ duo Silver Panda Bring fresh influences to their beats on “Acid or Techno.” Barreling drums and searing acid lines cut up the airwaves on this supersized tune with melodic chords that bring plenty of emotion. It is a track full of mysticism. “Say Nothin” rounds out the EP with a steamy vocal whisper layered over rickety progressive house drums.










Space Food - Distance

The talented duo, Vladimir and Leonid, stormed in with “Distance.” Its pure and atmospheric melodies will teleport you to an idyllic location with magnificent panoramic views. It's an ideal listen at a pre-party chill by the pool or somewhere by the seaside.




Cherry UA - Rebel

Cherry (UA) came through with yet another robust flavor of melodic techno, “Rebel,” six and a half minutes of sleek, brightly lit grooves. The flashy synths add real drama as rising pads and prickly beats fill you with the urge to move. The whole tune is sure to make a massive impact on the floor.




Audiense, S. Birin - Ether

Russian DJ, and producer Audiense, teamed up with S. Birin for the powerful production of "Ether." The track breathes a fresh sound characterized by its unique synthesis that carries through the entire track.









5 Songs That Define Miss Monique's Siona Records 

Progressive House tastemaker and Siona Records label head Miss Monique is currently at the top of her game. Arguably one of Kyiv’s top electronic artists, Miss Monique is best known for her unique talent in blending the most eclectic techno rhythms with classic trance and progressive tunes.




The Ukrainian DJ’s popular livestream sets have helped propel her further into the spotlight, connecting her with thousands of new fans worldwide. She’s performed at iconic spots like DJ Mag’s No.1 Club in the World Hi Ibiza and mammoth festivals such as Tomorrowland and ADE.




Even amidst an increasingly blinding DJ gig schedule, Miss Monique continues to release DJ sets from stunning locations. Here are five of the most beautiful Miss Monique live streams.







1. Miss Monique Live @ Radio Intense 31.01.2017






This set from her former weekly slot at Radio Intense is her most popular live set, with over 12 million views.

Carrying solid tracks by Pete K, Pryda, Solid Stone, Sebastian Weikum, and others, Miss Monique combines melodic techno with darker progressive sounds in a seamless mashup.




2. Miss Monique - Special B’day Podcast 2022

Following traditions, Miss Monique celebrated her birthday with her listeners during a livestream where she played some of her favorite tracks. Ben Kim, Roger Shah, Anyma, and Cherry are among some of the features from this special birthday mix.




3. Miss Monique - Siona Records: 2nd Anniversary Live Mix

Playing from the beautiful beaches of Tulum, Mexico, Miss Monique released this set to celebrate an incredible two-year journey with her label Siona Records. This mix is jam-packed with the incredible releases from her unstoppable label featuring Space Food, XANDL, Hijack, Cherry, and loads more.




4. Miss Monique - YearMix 2021

Miss Monique gives perfect transitions in head-bopping melodies while playing from sunny Rixos Sharm in Egypt. Incorporating bangers from Artbat, David Guetta, Maceo Plex, Cristoph, Yotto, and many more, Miss Monique travels to exotic destinations within the rhythm in our minds.




5. Miss Monique - Siona Records: 3rd Anniversary

Miss Monique shares newly released and unreleased tracks from her well-established record label, Siona Records, while showing off magnificent views from the world’s most infamous party island, Ibiza. This incredible set features releases from Silver Panda, Alex Sol, Weekend Heroes, and more.







































5 of Miss Monique's Most Stunning Live Streams

Miss Monique (real name Olesia Arkusha) is hailed as one of the most popular female progessive house artists in Europe. And indeed, the Ukrainian-born DJ/producer’s breakout hit, “No Fear” secured this title, earning her nods from the likes of Paul Oakenfold, Armin van Buuren, Paul van Dyk, and Gareth Emery.

With a long list of performances across Europe, as well as in clubs in South America, Asia, and the Middle East, Miss Monique has established herself as a global act. The United States—though perhaps a bit slow to the game—isn’t missing out either, with regular Miss Monique appearances at Miami clubs and venues like Threehouse and the Musette Yacht. She’s also performed in Ibiza—gracing the same lineups as Tchami, Malaa, and David Guetta—and at global destination festivals like Tomorrowland and LMF Festival.

In 2019, Arkusha founded her own label, Siona Records, with the goal of providing a platform for Ukrainian talent to break into the world of progressive house. In January 2022, the label achieved the status of top selling progressive house label on Beatport, even beating out genre titans like Above & Beyond’s Anjunabeats and Eric Prydz’s Pryda Presents.

In the press, she’s been featured on Beatport’s editorial platform, Beatportal, as well as in DJ Mag España. Garnering more popularity by the day, Miss Monique is also known for her live sets, posted to YouTube, and for her podcast, Mind Games, where she posts new, exclusive DJ sets every month.

Ukraine

Miss Monique

Miss Monique Atlanta Headline Debut

United States

Domaine Atlanta

Miss Monique [Extended Sunset Set] on The Roof

Superior Ingredients (Roof)

Miss Monique Chicago Headline Debut

PRYSM

Miss Monique Austin Headline Debut

Kingdom Nightclub

Miss Monique Detroit Headline Debut

Leland City Club

Miss Monique LA Headline Debut

Sound

Quantum Brooklyn

OCHO Episode 8

Superior Ingredients: The Room

On the surface, Ukrainian-born DJ and producer Alesia Arkusha, aka Miss Monique, has made light work of becoming an influential artist. Since she arrived on the scene about a decade ago, she’s captured the hearts of millions of progressive house lovers across the globe with her distinctive DJing, 

, and emotive releases on lauded labels like AFTR:HRS, Black Hole Recordings, and her own Siona Records imprint. Her accomplishments have been unthinkable; this is only the beginning for the young artist.

Miss Monique - MiMo Weekly Podcast 037 4K [Melodic Techno/ Progressive House DJ Mix]

Hey, Progressive Lovers
After the attack by Russian forces to my country and lovely city Kyiv, I had to temporarily leave my house and studio, so we recorded MiMo Weekly Podcast 037 also in another place.  Cheers, your Miss Monique

In this episode you will hear new releases from Artbat, CamelPhat, Monolink, Nora En Pure, Cristoph  and many more. 
Also we will share new tracks from our Siona Records

Support Ukraine:  https://helpua.bank.gov.ua

Early Access to MiMo Weekly Podcasts and upcoming tracks:
https://www.patreon.com/MissMoniqueDJ

Tracklist: https://1001.tl/ckf9ukt

Best Tracks from Mind Games & MiMo Weekly Podcasts on Spotify Playlists:
https://lnkfi.re/MiMoProg
https://lnkfi.re/MiMoProg2

MiMo Weekly and Mind Games Playlists of all my YouTube podcasts: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NObKVa0y9uo&list=PLUnUwT_FN6u0VRg0RkQSTjDKF8VkaYQWR 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NObKVa0y9uo&list=PLUnUwT_FN6u3Rzfb9UYC6_zYRj8KX8BX7

Be sure to subscribe to my Channel: 
https://www.youtube.com/user/DjMissMonique?sub_confirmation=1

Booking: 
Worldwide: booking@sionarecords.com
South America: info@circlebookings.com

Promo: promomissmonique@gmail.com
Demo: info@sionarecords.com

Audio:
https://soundcloud.com/alesia-arkusha

#MissMonique  #Melodictechno #ProgressiveHouse

After attending raves and discovering house music clubs close to home, she became enamored with progressive house. Something stirred her soul from the get-go, and she slowly began to tamper with the idea of making others feel the same way she felt by building a community of her own.

As her early love for house music grew to a full-on obsession, one of her close friends demonstrated the art of DJing to her on a set of CDJs. Once she grasped the basics, she began experimenting with diverse, moving soundscapes. And it seems that almost without trying, she took it on full force as it became a crucial aspect of her being. Something that was once just a lively, amusing hobby transformed into a passion-driven career. The launch of the Miss Monique project allowed her to showcase her authenticity.

Miss Monique’s career has grown in parallel with 

 dance music scene. A country that birthed a wide array of acclaimed artists like ARTBAT, Woo York, Koralova, and Nastia deserves worldwide recognition, especially now. With the unfortunate ongoing turmoil in the country she calls home, Miss Monique is honored to represent her beloved nation and promote a sense of peace with her uplifting sounds.

Europe certainly isn’t short on celebrated house and techno artists. In 2021’s annual curated list of dance music’s creme-de-la-creme - DJ MAG’s Hot 100 - over 60% of the awarded artists were Euro-based. While the UK, Ibiza, Belgium, and The Netherlands often own the label of “house music hotspots,” Ukrainian DJs are also on the rise. Recent world events have only highlighted the fact that the resilient artists of Ukraine have always shown a true passion for their community and their craft. We’re honored to celebrate Ukrainian DJs, their music, and their legacy.




Miss Monique

Since making her Ibiza debut in recent years, Miss Monique has graced hundreds of stages across the globe. Her eclectic mix of techno, trance, and progressive house has racked up a serious online fanbase. The producer turned to her YouTube channel through the pandemic to connect with fans and play music. There, her livestream sets have racked up millions of hits. Her biggest one is a live set from Atlas Weekend Festival in 2020. The stream boasts an impressive 5 million views. She also has a fan-favorite podcast, Mind Games, where listeners are treated to a fresh DJ set every month. Those close to New York might want to check Miss Monique out this summer at Superior Ingredients in Brooklyn.







Artbat

This duo of Artur Kryvenko and Vitalii Limarenko earned a nod as superstar David Guetta’s favorite tune of 2020 with their CamelPhat collaboration “For a Feeling.” The French “Titanium” producer called Artbat “rising stars.” Hailing from Ukraine, the two friends create an energetic and innovative melodic house sound recognized by artists like Deadmau5 and Richie Hawtin.




DJ Nastia

Anastasia Topolskaia, better known as Dj Nastia, is known best for her dynamic mix of jungle house and techno. Nastia is openly proud of her Ukrainian heritage, and she’s touted as the most toured DJ in the history of her country by Resident Advisor. Born in a small village in eastern Ukraine, she started visiting nightclubs in Donetsk with her older sisters as a young girl. Though she had no formal music education, she loved to dance. After she started spinning in ’05, she took gigs at radio stations and clubs across the country - including a residency with the media giant BBC Radio 1. A true DJ at heart, she says her goal is to get as many people on the dancefloor as possible.


Juicy M

Juicy started her DJ career in 2007 as a resident DJ in fashionable nightclubs like Orangerea Supper Club and Matrix in Ukraine. Known for her wicked technical skills and her mixing videos on YouTube, she was also named “Best Female DJ of the Year” by the 2010 ProDJ Awards. In the early 2010s, she took her first international gigs as an opening act hip hop and R&B DJ. By 2015 she’d become the first woman to sign to the heralded Armada imprint since she’s shared the stage with Skrillex, Afrojack, Black Eyed Peas, and Backstreet Boys and played in some of the world’s top destinations and festivals like Green Valley, Pacha, Privilege, and Creamfields.




Woo York

After releasing a string of successful EPs on Soma Records and Planet Rhythm in 2012, Woo York went from a local heroic duo to internationally recognized artists. Their unique, hardware-based sets and their melodic approach to techno have made them standouts in the underground scene. Their 2018 debut album, Chasing The Dream, includes hits like “Second Breath” and “Equilibrium.”




Korolova

One day, Olga Korolova decided to switch her studies from mathematics to music. Her parents were unsure of her newfound career path as a DJ, but Korolova knew what she wanted. After intensive touring and performing hard-hitting EDM on big festival stages, she started to feel a disconnect. After finding herself mesmerized by a techno stage at Daydream Festival in 2017, she knew she had found the music of her soul. She’s leaned into her soul music with her visually stunning YouTube videos and intimate performances.




Daria Kolosova

Daria Kolosova grew up living in Lutugino, Ukraine. After falling in love with electronic music at a young age, her formative creative years came after she relocated to Kyiv. After headlining nearly every club in Kyiv, she joined forces with DJ Nastia for an international tour before eventually becoming a resident of Nastia’s newly launched label, NECHTO.




Nastya Muravyova

Nastya Muravyova is one of Ukraine's most active DJs somehow balancing a job as a flight attendant with a consistent touring schedule that takes her across Europe to gigs at institutions like Tressor and Berghain.  She's held down the decks at institutions like Berghain, Fabric, She blends pumping four-to-the-floor techno with edgy breakbeat for an infectiously sexy sound. We love her 2018 warehouse set from The Boiler Room on YouTube.


Xenia

Xenia’s high-energy style of techno has made her a rising star in the underground scene. Her fuzzed-out banger “Stimulant X” asks dancers the adage “how low can you go,” but with a sinister twist and a massive beat. Last year the rising star joined Analog, a powerful worldwide agency, as she declared her position in the techno scene.



Ukrainian DJs You Should Know

“EDM has become extremely popular in Ukraine. We have some of the most incredible artists in my opinion. It’s amazing to see the number of people all over the world supporting Ukraine during these tough times. The electronic dance music community has truly shown its colors during this unfortunate time and I couldn’t be more grateful to be part of this community.”


Instead of relying on a constant stream of new releases to build a fan base, Miss Monique opted to connect with listeners on a much deeper level. Her weekly podcasts put her sparkling personality front and center, allowing her fans to get to know her more intimately.

First came the Mind Games podcast on Radio Intense, a channel dedicated to streaming content from a global network of DJs. Then she took things to her own channel with her weekly MiMo podcasts. Her latest MiMo podcast 037 gained over one million views in just one month, a career breakthrough she’s hugely grateful for.

“It’s funny, I actually went on YouTube a few days ago and saw that my first video was posted eight years ago, which is crazy. People accepted this idea from the moment I launched it, and the sense of community built around it has been so strong ever since. Every stream feels like a small virtual festival in a way. There’s just something special about having 3,000 plus people watching the live streams and getting to chat with them online. I love this aspect of my career so I can connect with my audience and listeners this way."

Her fascination with progressive house, trance, and melodic techno stems from a love for legends like John Digweed, Sander van Doorn, Paul Oakenfold, Boris, Carl Cox, Solomun, and Black Coffee. Miss Monique beautifully intertwines this trifecta of breathtaking genres flawlessly.

Her sound might have evolved, but her extraordinary sonic flair has been steady every beat. Today, she owns one of the most prominent progressive house labels, Siona Records, a label full of tracks that continue to rank at the top of the Beatport charts month after month.

“Progressive house is so fascinating to me because of its moving melodies and beautiful sound overall, but lately, I’ve been loving mixing it in with melodic techno as well to make my sets feel groovier and harder at the same time. It just feels right. There’s no other way to explain it.”

2022 has been intense for the renowned musician as her tour schedule has taken her from Amsterdam to New York and beyond. Whether performing at intimate, cozy yacht parties in Ibiza or taking over the decks at massive festivals like Untold, ADE, or Tomorrowland, she enjoys every second of getting the opportunity to make people move in person.

The rest of 2022 will be filled with even more club and festival performances, and she’s particularly ecstatic about her upcoming EDC Orlando debut in early November. She recently unveiled her first-ever Cercle stream that will be taking place at the Biosphere in Montréal. The first few Siona Record showcases will kick off at various cities worldwide shortly thereafter. With so much more yet to come from Miss Monique moving forward, we can’t wait to discover how else she’ll transform the dance music industry with her every move.

“When somebody labels what I do as a job, I don’t feel that that’s what ​​I’m doing. DJing and producing is not a job. At least it ​doesn’t feel​​ like work to me. I’m absolutely in love with everything I do and take on 24/7, 365 days a year and I couldn’t be happier. I still can’t believe all of this is real and that this is my life.”

On the surface, Ukrainian-born DJ and producer Alesia Arkusha, aka Miss Monique, has made light work of becoming an influential artist. Since she arrived on the scene about a decade ago, she’s captured the hearts of millions of progressive house lovers across the globe with her distinctive DJing, captivating YouTube streams, and emotive releases on lauded labels like AFTR:HRS, Black Hole Recordings, and her own Siona Records imprint. Her accomplishments have been unthinkable; this is only the beginning for the young artist.

After attending raves and discovering house music clubs close to home, she became enamored with progressive house. Something stirred her soul from the get-go, and she slowly began to tamper with the idea of making others feel the same way she felt by building a community of her own.



As her early love for house music grew to a full-on obsession, one of her close friends demonstrated the art of DJing to her on a set of CDJs. Once she grasped the basics, she began experimenting with diverse, moving soundscapes. And it seems that almost without trying, she took it on full force as it became a crucial aspect of her being. Something that was once just a lively, amusing hobby transformed into a passion-driven career. The launch of the Miss Monique project allowed her to showcase her authenticity.



Miss Monique’s career has grown in parallel with Ukraine’s dance music scene. A country that birthed a wide array of acclaimed artists like ARTBAT, Woo York, Koralova, and Nastia deserves worldwide recognition, especially now. With the unfortunate ongoing turmoil in the country she calls home, Miss Monique is honored to represent her beloved nation and promote a sense of peace with her uplifting sounds.



“EDM has become extremely popular in Ukraine. We have some of the most incredible artists in my opinion. It’s amazing to see the number of people all over the world supporting Ukraine during these tough times. The electronic dance music community has truly shown its colors during this unfortunate time and I couldn’t be more grateful to be part of this community.”


Instead of relying on a constant stream of new releases to build a fan base, Miss Monique opted to connect with listeners on a much deeper level. Her weekly podcasts put her sparkling personality front and center, allowing her fans to get to know her more intimately.



First came the Mind Games podcast on Radio Intense, a channel dedicated to streaming content from a global network of DJs. Then she took things to her own channel with her weekly MiMo podcasts. Her latest MiMo podcast 037 gained over one million views in just one month, a career breakthrough she’s hugely grateful for.



“It’s funny, I actually went on YouTube a few days ago and saw that my first video was posted eight years ago, which is crazy. People accepted this idea from the moment I launched it, and the sense of community built around it has been so strong ever since. Every stream feels like a small virtual festival in a way. There’s just something special about having 3,000 plus people watching the live streams and getting to chat with them online. I love this aspect of my career so I can connect with my audience and listeners this way."



Her fascination with progressive house, trance, and melodic techno stems from a love for legends like John Digweed, Sander van Doorn, Paul Oakenfold, Boris, Carl Cox, Solomun, and Black Coffee. Miss Monique beautifully intertwines this trifecta of breathtaking genres flawlessly.



Her sound might have evolved, but her extraordinary sonic flair has been steady every beat. Today, she owns one of the most prominent progressive house labels, Siona Records, a label full of tracks that continue to rank at the top of the Beatport charts month after month.





“Progressive house is so fascinating to me because of its moving melodies and beautiful sound overall, but lately, I’ve been loving mixing it in with melodic techno as well to make my sets feel groovier and harder at the same time. It just feels right. There’s no other way to explain it.”



2022 has been intense for the renowned musician as her tour schedule has taken her from Amsterdam to New York and beyond. Whether performing at intimate, cozy yacht parties in Ibiza or taking over the decks at massive festivals like Untold, ADE, or Tomorrowland, she enjoys every second of getting the opportunity to make people move in person.



The rest of 2022 will be filled with even more club and festival performances, and she’s particularly ecstatic about her upcoming EDC Orlando debut in early November. She recently unveiled her first-ever Cercle stream that will be taking place at the Biosphere in Montréal. The first few Siona Record showcases will kick off at various cities worldwide shortly thereafter. With so much more yet to come from Miss Monique moving forward, we can’t wait to discover how else she’ll transform the dance music industry with her every move.



“When somebody labels what I do as a job, I don’t feel that that’s what ​​I’m doing. DJing and producing is not a job. At least it ​doesn’t feel​​ like work to me. I’m absolutely in love with everything I do and take on 24/7, 365 days a year and I couldn’t be happier. I still can’t believe all of this is real and that this is my life.”