The best guest mix we ever received opened with three minutes of what sounded like a field recording from a train platform, then eased into a deep house groove that did not let go for an hour. No intro, no drops, no big-room moments. Just someone who understood pacing and had the patience to let a mix breathe. That is what we are looking for.
What We Want
A guest mix for Unchained Radio should feel like a personal statement. We want to hear what you actually play when nobody is telling you what to play. The selectors we feature tend to have a few things in common:
- Coherent selection. The tracks belong together. There is a logic to the sequencing, even if it is not obvious at first.
- Flow over fireworks. We are not looking for peak-time sets designed to go viral. We want mixes that reward sustained listening. Think Motor City Drum Ensemble's DJ Kicks, not a festival closer.
- Personality. Your mix should sound like you. If we could swap your name for anyone else's and it would not matter, it probably is not ready.
- Range within focus. You do not need to cover every genre. But within whatever you are doing, show us you have dug deeper than the obvious picks.
Format Requirements
- Length: 60 to 90 minutes. Shorter than 60 rarely gives a mix enough room. Longer than 90 needs to earn every extra minute.
- Audio: MP3 at 320kbps minimum, or WAV. No 128kbps rips. No re-encoded files.
- Tracklist: Required. Full tracklist with artist, title, and label for every track. If you do not know the label, note that. If a track is an unreleased ID, say so.
- Artwork: Optional but welcome. If you have a cover image, send it along. Minimum 1000x1000 pixels.
- Bio: A short paragraph about who you are and what you do. Two or three sentences is fine. Save the full CV.
What We Do Not Want
This is not about gatekeeping. It is about fit. Unchained Radio covers a specific area of electronic music, and some things do not land here:
- Commercial EDM or top-40 remixes
- Auto-mixed or sync-button-and-walk-away sets with no curation behind them
- Mixes that are mostly your own unreleased tracks presented as a DJ set
- Sets ripped from someone else's stream or broadcast without permission
If you are unsure whether your style fits, browse the mix archive or listen to the house sessions and electro sessions to get a sense of the range.
How to Submit
Send a private streaming link (SoundCloud, Google Drive, Dropbox, or similar) along with your tracklist and bio. Do not send large file attachments directly. We will reach out with upload instructions if your mix is selected.
We listen to everything. That is not a platitude. Every submission gets heard. Response time is typically 2 to 4 weeks. If we are interested, we will get back to you. If you do not hear from us, it was not the right fit this time, but you are welcome to try again with something different.
Already a producer or label looking for editorial coverage instead? Check the artist submission guidelines.