After a little bit of a hiatus, we’re bringing back one of our most loved (and yes, hotly debated) features the Decoded Magazine Mix of the Month. But this time, we’re doing it differently. We have enlisted our former Mix of the Month winner, Ben Clifford, to adjudicate and we are opening up more genres to submit.
We’re here for the DJs who dig deep. No EDM. No chart-toppers. No chasing plays. We want substance, not popularity contests. This isn’t about who can rack up the most streams or drop the latest Beatport Top 10. We’re looking for DJs who push boundaries. Those who explore sound, not trends. Those who understand that DJing is a craft, about storytelling, technical precision, selection, and soul.
As our Editor, Damion Pell, puts it:
“There’s a whole universe of talent that doesn’t get the exposure it deserves. We’re here to spotlight DJs who bring something real, who use their decks to say something unique. This isn’t about peak-time bangers; it’s about digging deeper, telling a story, and showing us who you are through your mix.”
Ben Clifford – Mix Competition Manager
“I was thrilled to be selected as a winner of the competition and loved how the Decoded team focused on creativity instead of just popularity, which is pretty rare these days! It’s a privilege to be asked to help judge the new era of competition entries, and I’m looking forward to hearing some fresh musical journeys.”
What We’re Looking For
This is your shot to be featured on Decoded Magazine with a full interview and global exposure — if you follow the rules. We’re not messing around. If you ignore the submission steps, you’re instantly disqualified. No exceptions.
Submission Guidelines
1-Hour Mix Only
Exactly 60 minutes. Not a second more or less.
Title Format
Use this title format:
Decoded Magazine Mix of the Month [Month] Submission – [Your Name]
Example: Decoded Magazine Mix of the Month August Submission – DJ XX
Artwork
Use our Decoded logo as your mix cover. Please don’t edit it, it’s our logo and we kinda like it the way it is
Upload + Share
Upload your mix to Mixcloud or SoundCloud
Include a full tracklist (mandatory)
Tag our Facebook page: Decoded Magazine Facebook
Post your mix in our group: Decoded Magazine
Share it far and wide — the more people listening, the better.
Genres Accepted
Drum & Bass
Breaks
House
Techno
Deep House
Ambient
Chill Out
Trip Hip
Electro
Techno
Dub Techno
Minimal
Progressive House
Melodic Techno
No EDM (Trap, Dubstep, Commercial, Big Room, Trance — none of it)
Important Rules
- No live mixes – this must be a studio mix.
- Only ONE submission per month.
- Tracklist is essential – no list, no feature.
- Follow every instruction exactly. Any deviation = automatic disqualification.
- Respect your audience – no spamming or tagging people without their consent.
How We Judge
We don’t care about play counts. Seriously. You could have 50 plays or 50,000, it’s irrelevant to us.
What we do care about:
- Technical skill
- Creativity
- Track selection
- Journey and flow
- Originality
Our team will judge entries from a shortlist based on quality, depth, and artistry. We’re not here for hype; we’re here for talent.
Yearly Winner
Each month’s winner will be featured across Decoded Magazine’s platforms, and every 12 months, each Mix finalist will go head-to-head with a public vote to become DJ of the Year, with an extended interview, prizes, merchandise and more to come.
Think you’ve got what it takes? Bring us your best. Show us your sound. But above all, follow the rules.
Need the Decoded Logo? Grab it here:
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