FEATURE:
Spotlight
played in the U.K. on 26th July at Junction 2 Festival 2026. Miss Monique is someone I have recently connected with. There are some new interviews I want to source. However, I am going back to last year for the first one. DJ Mag chatted with this remarkable Ukrainian D.J. One of the most respected in the world, do make sure that you follow her. As they note in their header, this “Ukrainian DJ, producer and label boss Miss Monique has carved out a global following through her progressive sets that brim with emotional sounds. Now, with a landmark residency at Hï Ibiza and high-profile shows alongside David Guetta and Carl Cox, she opens up about her ever evolving creative journey, falling for the island, and finding freedom in music”. I have so much respect for the mighty Miss Monique:
“Monique is in a reflective mood as she tells us about her personal journey. The road to Hï Ibiza hasn’t been straightforward. Like many Ukrainian artists, her life was disrupted by the Russian invasion of her homeland in February 2022. “When Russia attacked my country and started the war, I had to move to Lisbon to continue working and help Ukraine. It became a place where I could find some peace and process everything that was happening. It gave me time to reflect, to stay grounded, and to continue creating — even in the middle of such emotional, physical chaos.”
Now, she’s found a new base on the White Isle and it’s already beginning to leave its mark, both personally and creatively. “Ibiza is like a beautiful explosion of everything — the energy, the contrasts, the openness. I feel free here, and that freedom naturally flows into my music and sets,” she says. Though she’s still exploring, it’s the island’s sense of musical freedom and the warmth of its people that have stood out most. “Each place built a different layer of who I am, and together they shaped my artistic identity.”
For Miss Monique, Ibiza feels like a place where everyone meets you with open arms — and it’s a place she’s quickly fallen in love with.
“When people experience my music — whether it’s in a club, on a livestream, or somewhere quiet with headphones — I hope they can let go of whatever’s heavy in their mind. Even if just for a moment.”
Her 13-week residency at Hï Ibiza has been more than a career milestone — it’s been the realisation of a quiet hope. “My dream was never about seeing my face on a billboard. The real dream was to one day become part of the Hï club family. Every time I arrived on the island and saw those billboards with the names and faces of artists who had residencies at the club, it gave me motivation and hope. I used to look at them and think, ‘Maybe one day, that could be me’.”
What fuelled her drive has become a reality, the realisation of years of hard work and determination that, no doubt, carries a deep personal meaning for Olesia. “Hï has always been a place I looked up to — where so many artists I admire have played. The level of care, the attention to detail, and the incredible team behind it all make it something truly special,” she tells us. “Being invited to be part of this feels like confirmation that the path I’ve been following — with all its effort, growth and learning — is leading somewhere meaningful.”
Her ability to blend the genre’s roots with her own melodic, hypnotic style has culminated in a signature sound that reverberates widely across the dancefloor — from the underground to main stages and back again. “Sometimes the hypnotic energy comes from simplicity, sometimes from layering or contrast — I don’t follow strict rules, I just follow what feels true. That way, I can evolve without losing the essence.” She adds: “When people experience my music — whether it’s in a club, on a livestream, or somewhere quiet with headphones — I hope they can let go of whatever’s heavy in their mind. Even if just for a moment, I want them to feel calm, connected, and fully present. Like a small pause from reality, just to breathe and enjoy.”
Outside of DJing and the world of streaming, Miss Monique has been busy on the production front. Her remix of David Guetta and Sia’s ‘Beautiful People’ landed just in time for this Ibiza summer season. “When I was invited to remix this track, I felt both excited and a little nervous — it’s such an iconic duo, and when David and Sia work together it’s always something insane. What drew me to the track was the beautiful harmony, Sia’s magical voice and I felt an amazing summer mood here.” She smiles. “I knew that I would like to make this remix ‘for listening’ and to reshape it into something that feels like my own musical language. To release this now, during my first Ibiza season, feels symbolic — like two different worlds connecting through music”.
For Student Pocket Guide, Miss Monique was asked about A.I. music, the summer ahead of her (one that has been very busy), and an Ibiza residency. I would love to hear another album from her soon, as her recent single., Ghosts (Nicolas Taboada and FRANCO BA collaborated), is fantastic:
“Where do you draw the line with AI in music?
The beauty of human-made music is that it’s never perfect, and that’s exactly what makes it powerful. It always evokes emotion, whether good or bad, but it makes you feel something.
When I receive demos for my label, it’s actually quite easy to recognise tracks that are heavily AI-generated. They sound almost too perfect, like they’ve analysed all the data on what works and what doesn’t and built something technically flawless. But for me, they often lack real emotion. They’re good, but they feel standard.
I think AI can be a great tool and assistant in the process, but I would never give it full creative control.
How important is visual identity in DJ culture today?
For me, fashion and music are deeply connected; they’re both forms of self-expression. Before people even hear the music, they already feel something through your visual identity, your presence and your energy.
I see it as one complete world where sound and visuals speak the same language. What I wear and how I present myself reflect the mood and story behind my music.
At the same time, it has to be authentic. If it feels forced or just follows trends, people notice immediately. For me, it’s always about staying true to who I am.
Has DJ technology changed the way artists perform?
Technology is an amazing tool, and it definitely opens up new creative possibilities. It allows you to experiment more during your sets and approach things differently.
At the same time, the essence of DJing stays the same. It’s all about music selection, taste and the connection with the crowd.
Technology should support the artist, not replace the artistry. It depends on how you use it”.
I will end with DJ Mag and their recent chat. I do want to go back to Pioneer DJ and their in-depth interview, as there are some interesting questioned asked. In terms of how Miss Monique prepares for her sets and how her st-up has evolved and changed. This is a D.J. who is arguably on among the greatest D.J.s of her generation.
“What were the main challenges you faced in the first few years of your DJ career, and how did you overcome them?
It’s funny but in the beginning I honestly thought, ‘Once I learn how to mix, the world will be mine.’ I know, that sounds so naive and full of unicorn dreams.
But with time I realized that the hardest part—and something I’m still learning—is to truly feel the crowd at every event. People are so different, some come for the artist, some just want to be part of the party, and others might arrive in a bad mood. As many people as there are, that’s how many moods you’ll find. A DJ has to sense all of them to make the night special for everyone on the dance floor, and that’s not always easy.
Another challenge I faced in the early years was being taken seriously. Back then, there weren’t many women behind the decks, and earning respect sometimes required twice the effort.
And of course, confidence was a big one too—learning to trust my own taste and not overthink what people might expect from me. Over the years, I’ve learned that the more authentic I am, the stronger the connection with the crowd becomes. Every set, every mistake, and every small success helped me grow and find my own direction.
What’s your current setup on stage, and how has it evolved over time?
I honestly love that you’ve brought me back into my memories of this. Let’s go through my whole setup journey!
I started with CDJ-1000MK2 and always played with different mixers, depending on what the club had. Back then, I didn’t even know what an artist’s technical rider was. Pretty soon, I decided to try using a laptop and Traktor X1 controller. For me, it felt more comfortable because I didn’t have to burn 12 tracks onto a single CD, it definitely made my life easier on that side. Plus, it was really interesting to work with the effects and loops on the X1.
The first time I saw the CDJ-850 in a club—finally with USB support—I was excited, but honestly, I didn’t fall in love with them right away. It was only later, when I started playing regularly at one club in Kyiv that had CDJ-2000NXS that I completely switched. I stopped using the laptop and fell absolutely in love with that gear.
As for my current setup, it’s CDJ-3000’s and the V10 mixer. I love this setup so much that I can’t even imagine working with anything else… well, maybe with the new Alphatheta Euphonia, which I already tested last summer, my second love.
How important is improvisation in your sets, and how do you leave space for it when planning or preparing music?
You know, there was a time when I mixed more cautiously—I was scared to improvise, always worrying I might make a mistake. But now I’ve changed my view on that. I’d rather try something and make a mistake than stick to something boring and routine. For me, it’s much more interesting to play when I can improvise, play with people’s emotions, and capture their attention. Of course, there are some loops or ideas I might plan in advance, but I always leave space for improvisation.
What’s your process for prepping music before a show?
I always want to know my tracks perfectly, so I listen to them many times. I also prepare some loops, acapellas, and tracks that I can blend live, depending on how the crowd feels. But I never plan a full set in advance, I prefer to leave space for spontaneity and let the moment guide me.
A lot of DJs are trying to build their own series or channels now. What advice would you give them, especially about standing out in a crowded space?
Right now, YouTube is full of very similar content. I feel that on some level it’s not as exciting as it was a year ago. But if someone still wants to start, even with so much competition, they should try to create something truly unique, something that hasn’t been done before. People always notice originality, and that’s what can really make you stand out”.
DJ Mag spoke with Miss Monique for her second year of an Ibiza residency. Having first visited Ibiza in 2017, this does feel like home to her. There are sections of this interview I feel are important to drop in. DJ Mag start by noting how “joy and responsibility of helming such a high-profile residency, getting props from some of the biggest figures in the scene, and the mutual devotion she shares with her fans all over the world”. A breath-taking talent and one of the most passionate and driven D.J.s and producers, go and follow her on social media. It is clear that initial visit to Ibiza (almost a decade ago) made a huge impression on Miss Monique:
“Nevertheless, that first visit opened her eyes to some of the possibilities that were open to her within electronic music. She’d made her name in her home country, and up until that point had only played a couple of times abroad — in India and Egypt. She remembers going to Amnesia that first time and standing in the middle of the dancefloor, taking in the vibe during a Cosmic Gate set. Fuelled by coffee, her posse then jumped to a few more other parties. “I had fun and didn’t analyse it too much,” she says.
Fast forward to 2022 and Miss Monique — born Olesia Arkusha — started coming to Ibiza regularly, especially after being invited by David Guetta to play his Future Rave night after a chance meeting in Miami. “The next year David and MORTEN invited me many more times. And then it was decided to sometimes stay some extra days, so I had the possibility to visit some parties.” Her love of the island continued to flourish.
“The music that I like is changing so fast, it’s hard to name myself in one genre. So I’m playing melodic techno, I can add some tech-house, sometimes in my residency night I’m going into house at some point — a bit of everything.”
The following autumn she received a life-changing phone call from her manager. “He said, ‘Listen, there is something happening. You might feel stressed at first but you will like it’," she recalls. "He then told me that the Night League team were thinking about offering me a residency at Hï Ibiza, and I remember my hands started shaking. I was emotional, it was probably one of the key moments of my life. That call changed a lot.”
She remembers feeling apprehensive of the huge, nerve-racking responsibility of such a high-profile residency. She was stressed about whether people would come to see her sets in the Club Room. But, of course, they did, and in their droves. “I had so much appreciation every night when they came and then stayed until 6AM,” she says, “because usually I was closing the night. Sometimes people leave because it’s late and they want to sleep, or they drank too much alcohol or whatever, but most of the people every week they stayed. I had so much appreciation for this — they pushed me to believe in myself.”
She shouts out the Night League team, including owner Yann Pissenem, for believing in her, and when she saw the poster with the full line-up of guest DJs she had invited to join her at Hï Ibiza throughout the season, she thought, “Oh my god, it’s really happening. I could only dream about something like this before.”
Miss Monique says that the whole of the 2025 season was a highlight for her. “One of the brightest moments was when David Guetta showed up in the booth. I never thought that David would come — artists are usually travelling, they’re busy. I remember I was playing my set and someone touched my back just at the moment where I was mixing a track, and I was like, ‘Just wait, just wait please’ [she remonstrates behind her], and I continued. Someone touched me again and I was like, ‘Just wait please’. I was mixing and I thought it was one of my team members or something, and then when I turned around and I saw David... I think someone caught this moment on video, and even now it makes me feel emotional. That was one of the highlights. That was huge support from his side for me. He always shows up in my life unexpectedly.”
“Nowadays I’m playing music that I like!” she continues. “Ten years ago it was progressive house. Now the music that I like is changing so fast, it’s hard to name myself in one genre. So I’m playing melodic techno, I can add some tech-house, sometimes in my residency night I’m going into house at some point — a bit of everything. I can’t say that I’m just part of one genre.” She talks about how she’s constantly looking for new tunes to keep her sets fresh, and how she takes the odd weekend off to make new music herself, as well as to listen to other new tunes in her zone.
Sport has also become increasingly important for her — she asks that as far as possible, the hotel she stays in for international gigs has a gym, so that she can do some simple exercises. She also plays tennis whenever she can, and her most recent discovery is cycling — hence her joining DJ Mag in the the charity Bridges For Music cycle ride earlier in the week during IMS. “I had so much fun, I did my personal record — 110 kilometres,” she beams. “It was a huge challenge.”
She talks about how positive messages from supporters have inspired her over the years, and that her Lisbon apartment walls are covered in presents given to her by well-wishers. “I never put them in the trash or leave them somewhere, I always take these huge packages with me. Bracelets, incredibly unique dolls, and besides all this they’ve done lots of tattoos, which for me is a crazy thing... When I see that they did this, I’m completely shocked — in a good way.”
Some make home-made MiMo flags, too. “I’m very appreciative, I know how much time goes into these things.” Miss Monique clearly has a deep connection with her audience, many of whom have also styled their hair in the same trademark green hue she's been dying it for 13 years. She mostly gets it refreshed professionally, she says, although “if I’m on a one-month tour then of course I can do it myself, if it needs to be”.
If you are not aware of Miss Monique or are new to her, I would urge you to follow her. I have not been able to see one of her sets, though I hope that changes soon enough. She is going to have a very busy next year or so, given the way she united crowds. So incredibly skilled, I am in awe of her! Go and spend some time with the sensational Miss Monique. She is a D.J. who is…
CONQUERING the global.
_____________
Follow Miss Monique
