So what are open decks? The name says it all: open decks — turntables available for everyone. Anyone can come and play their music. You sign up, show up with a USB, and perform for twenty to thirty minutes. The audience listens and supports. No gatekeeping, no “send your EPK,” no follower audits. The idea is to transform bedroom polish into stagecraft — because smooth transitions, reading the crowd, and recovering from slips can only be learned in front of people.

“Open decks was my first gig in London at Brixton Jamm,” says KLO. “It was a starting point for me.” That first step mattered because it built community fast — meeting new DJs, a venue promoter, and a path forward that didn’t exist the week before.

Mechanically, the format stays deliberately simple. “It’s open — anyone can sign in, add email or Instagram, and they just bring their USB,” KLO explains. “There’s a timetable… everyone performs, and everyone’s there supporting.” Curation is about flow, not taste. Styles aren’t policed; they are sequenced so the night breathes — house next to house, then techno, then whatever naturally follows — creating a clean build instead of whiplash. “You can play whatever you want,” KLO says.

That is why she decided to bring this format to Dubai — KLO felt there was something missing in the whole region. “I’ve never seen it in the Arab world — not in Lebanon,” she says. “I want to help people who are new and they just want to test themselves.” A good initiative, we thought, and one we couldn’t pass by without sharing.

Dubai has range and ambition, but early opportunities can be scarce, and the path to a first slot often runs through social metrics and a finished “sound.” “I want to open up the industry in Dubai,” KLO says. “Give people opportunities to get out of their comfort zone.” The value is pragmatic: “Here you need to be on social media, have a specific style, a background… which is normal. But how would you learn to perform without the experience? Open decks are trials before your real paid gig. Playing in your room is one thing; playing in front of people is something else.”

The pilot takes place at Hive on October 26 and will run as a living-room session: seated, intimate, and ear-first. “The concept is a living-room vibe,” KLO explains. “You sit down on the couch and play. People can sit around and watch.” This first edition is reserved for students of KLO’s workshop (feel free to sign up here) and Hive residents. But if the format resonates, it won’t stop there. “Next time it’s open to the public,” KLO notes.

Hive is already leaning in. “Hive really loves the idea and they want to keep it in their space,” says KLO. “Maybe next time a bigger room and a bigger list, and even beyond Hive.” The aim is to widen the door without diluting the premise: short sets, real crowd, low stakes, high learning.

Open decks is an experiment in making the scene porous. No hierarchy — just a system where skill sharpens in real time and the room belongs to whoever’s brave enough to step up. If the pilot holds, Dubai gets a new ritual: twenty minutes on the clock, the decks unlocked, and the city listening.