 In 1998 in Melbourne, answering an ad in the local press, she joined all-female rock band Girl Monstar as lead guitarist (1988–1993).The band had two Number One hits on the Australian Independent Charts and eventually received an ARIA nomination for best independent act.Following her stint with Girl Monstar, she played acoustically around Melbourne, later performing in Vietnam for a year before returning to Melbourne to record her Laughing EP (1996).