Track of the Week: KATHARSIS… From Tomorrowland to The Vault

How a “citizen of the world” landed in Perth, developed a “House with Attitude” sound, and just signed his latest track to one of the biggest labels in the world.

Jordan Monaghan (aka KATHARSIS) isn’t your typical local DJ. Born in New Zealand, he grew up bouncing between Egypt, Germany, and Portugal before landing in Perth to finish high school.

That global perspective bleeds into his sound. Inspired by annual pilgrimages to Tomorrowland and Ibiza, he has crafted a sonic signature he calls “House with an attitude”—a dark, driving blend of Tech House, Big Room, and Trance.

His latest track, “Bring The Beat Back,” has just claimed our Track of the Week—and it comes with a major stamp of approval. It’s been signed to Smash The House, the record label owned by heavyweights Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike.

We sat down with KATHARSIS to talk about recording voice memos in the middle of a rave, the pressure to be a “content creator,” and why networking is everything.

🌍 The Global Influence

KATHARSIS admits his journey into DJing wasn’t accidental, it was sparked by the world’s biggest stage.

“I started DJing because I attended Tomorrowland in 2019,” he says. “When I returned to Perth I wanted to play the songs I heard over there.”

He maintains that connection by traveling to Europe annually. It’s not just for partying; it’s for research.

“The vibes are insane and it’s all music driven… There have been countless times I’ll be in the crowd, drop down like I have dropped my phone, and record a voice memo of an idea I get right then and there.”

🔊 “House With An Attitude”

While he started with Big Room, his sound has evolved into something darker and more intricate.

“I call it ‘House with an attitude’—Bassy Tech House with influences of Big Room, Techno and Trance,” he explains.

In the studio, this translates to heavy sound design. “I love darker atmospheres… experimenting with FM sounds and trying to create weird sounds that haven’t been made before.”

He also dropped a hint for his upcoming releases: “A big thing I like to do is change genres or the complete vibe for the second drop. You’ll see some more of that later this year.”

💣 The Track: Bring The Beat Back

The winning track is a testament to the power of collaboration. Starting as an idea during a trip to Kununurra, it evolved into a three-way project with local talents GMAN and NIXN.

“I spent all day on this idea… GMAN jumped on and introduced the melody. We couldn’t find a vocal, so GMAN sent it to his mate NIXN, who absolutely loved it.”

The result is a polished, high-energy weapon that caught the ear of international A&Rs. “It’s so rewarding having support from a massive label such as Smash The House.”

📱 The “Content” Trap

When asked about trends he wishes would disappear, KATHARSIS was honest about the pressure on modern producers to be influencers first and musicians second.

“A lot of us DJs and producers are introverts,” he admits. “Jumping in front of a camera can always feel cringey.”

He wishes the scene would move away from “content being equally important” as the music. “I think we should go back to allowing music to be explored rather than viral TikToks.”

⚡ Quickfire: KATHARSIS

🔌 Pass the Aux

We ask every feature guest to answer a question left by the previous interviewee.

Incoming Question from Fräulein Noir:

“If you could do a b2b with another DJ, who would that be and why?”

KATHARSIS:

“Such a tough one. I would have to cut it down to Odd Mob, HNTR or Danny Avila. Those three are the biggest inspirations to me with my new sound and we all have the same dark bassy house/techno vibes.”

Outgoing Question for the Next DJ:

“What would the ultimate ‘I made it’ moment be for you?”

Listen to “Bring The Beat Back” on Spotify

Follow KATHARSIS: [Instagram Link]