get the most important thing in the mix up first - the vocals.
Then add the next most important thing (careful here, don't be egotistical, if its a rock thing guitars and drums usually lead, pop its vocals and drums, funk its bass and melody etc..... this is also not set in stone) and the next and so on.
This will mean you don't have to force the vocals through a mix but you will build the mix around them.
G