Monro originally started playing guitar in grade 9 at Frankston High School but soon moved to electric bass.

He later picked up double bass and after graduating from high school, attended the Victorian College of Arts.

In late 1999, Monro met and began playing in a trio with Ollie McGill on keyboards and Felix Riebl on percussion and vocals.

Calling themselves "The Cat Empire", they started playing a wide variety of gigs in clubs like Dizzy's and Bennett's Lane in Melbourne.

The band soon expanded in 2001 adding Harry James Angus on trumpet, Will Hull-Brown on drums and Jamshid "Jumps" Khadiwala as a DJ.