A brief guide for artists contributing to the series. Since 2010 we have curated over 310 exclusive mixes from artists, musicians, label owners, and crate diggers who share one thing: sound without compromise. Please read before submitting.
01 Tracklist
Send the tracklist as a plain .txt file. One track per line, formatted as below. Include label and year where known.
Format
01. Artist Name - Track Name [Label, Year]Example
01. Autechre - 90101-5l-l [Warp Records, 2008]
02. Coil - The Snow [Threshold House, 1991]
03. Lustmord - Heresy Part One [Side Effects, 1990]02 Photo
A high-quality horizontal image. Minimum width 1200px. Include photographer credit.
Avoid mobile snapshots. We are looking for something that captures mood and atmosphere — something that resonates with your sound. We often apply edits to align the photo with the journal's visual aesthetic. We always discuss any changes with you before publishing.
03 Audio File
Submit as MP3 at 192–320kbps or WAV lossless. Both are acceptable — choose whatever suits your workflow.
- MP3 / 192–320kbps
- WAV / lossless
04 Length & Structure
We accept mixes between 40 and 180 minutes. Beyond duration, consider density.
- 18–20 tracks per hour
- 2–3 min segments
- Edit long tracks thoughtfully
A mix is a narrative. It should breathe, evolve, reveal. Dynamic rotation keeps listeners inside your world rather than watching it from a distance.
05 Selection
Rare and long forgotten, or new but unexposed — this is what we are after. Dig deep. Surprise us. Surprise yourself.
We do not chase trends or hype. The Secret Thirteen mix series exists as a counter-narrative to the promotional economy of contemporary music. Your selection should reflect personal archaeology, not algorithmic approval.
We always welcome your own unreleased material — experiments, bootlegs, manipulations of other works, remixes, semi-live sessions, live recordings, sound collages. These personal touches often make a mix unforgettable.
06 Concept & Story
Send us a few lines about your mix. This is not PR copy — it is context. What drove the selection? What mood were you chasing? What is the thread connecting these sounds?
A short descriptive paragraph helps us write a meaningful essay and gives listeners a way into your sonic world. The more honest and specific, the better. We are not interested in what sounds good on a press release. We are interested in what is actually true.
"Make this mix as if it was your first and last."
The number 13 symbolizes the death of matter and the birth of spirit — the passage to a higher level of existence. Your mix is not content to be consumed and forgotten. It is an artifact, a document, a work of art.
We operate on a non-commercial DIY basis. No sponsors, no metrics, no compromise. Just sound, carefully considered, given the space it deserves.
Over three hundred mixes in fifteen years. Each one a different person's relationship with sound — their history, their obsessions, their private archaeology made public. That is the archive we are building. That is what your mix joins.
We take this seriously. We ask that you do too.
Reference Mixes
- STM 315 Celldöd Listen →
- STM 267 Drew McDowall Listen →
- STM 299 Slave To Society Listen →
- STM 233 Mick Harris Listen →
- STM 220 Ricardo Gomez Y De Buck Listen →
- STM 206 Silk Saw Listen →
- STM 152 Hypnoskull Listen →
Submitting
Once you have your mix ready, send the audio file, tracklist, photo and a few words about the mix to j@secretthirteen.org or reach out via our social channels. No need to tag us publicly — a direct message works fine.