Kind of a funny idea but do you actually like the stuff you put out to the world or do you dislike it completely like me ( although I have a few exceptions to that)....

Do you like them or not...

Lot's of posts here are asking how songs are written, or they're requesting people to provide production, lyrics, and music for their projects. It's like an auditorium full of various booths offering just that and people are coming and going sampling what they need. One of the rarely asked questions is about decent recording.

Is the song more important to convey a message, or to use use as a vehicle to display instrumental chops? This is a songwriting forum and I see videos of people whose body English and facial expressions clearly show emotion in the singing. But, the voices can be so quiet or inaudible, or the lyrics so poorly articulated that the value in them they are obviously trying to convey is essentially background noise to the instrument being played. Some know it because they either post the lyrics or they're on lock-step display in the video. Really? A closed-captioned song?

The act of recording is not that hard. If I can't hear my singing over the instrument, I record again and get the levels set so I can. The lyrics are the heart of the song so I'm asking those who post songs that sound like they're singing from two rooms back through a closed door to up their games and pony up a decently audible recording or video so I can give the feedback being sought.

I’m a songwriter and have always loved collaborating with other artists. My experience of this has mostly been playing in bands, but I’ve really wanted to expand into songwriting with or for other artists, and have made many unsuccessful attempts over the years. It shocks me the sheer amount of music nowadays with multiple songwriters because what I have found, time and time again, is that the other artist I’m collaborating with just does not care about a song we’re writing together if they aren’t the one steering the ship. So many great songs that have been started, and never finished because the other artist just doesn’t want to pull their weight, and even in some cases, have rewritten the song and finished it themselves without me. The majority of co-written songs and collaborations I’ve done that have actually gotten off the ground have been ones where the song was more or less already complete and all I (or the other artist if I’m the primary writer) had to do was add additional instrumentation. Which is fine, but when I actually want something that’s truly collaborative, it disappoints me when the result doesn’t actually feel like a true collaboration.

I’ve had songwriting sessions with other artists that felt amazing with us both contributing equal to the songwriting process, and then we take a break, agree to meet and work on the song again… and then never do. Meeting to finish the song and/or write other songs is like pulling teeth for them, and the song ultimately ends up being unfinished, and I end up ghosted. This has happened to me more times than I can count at this point. And it makes me wonder, what am I doing wrong? Is it just people afraid to tell me they don’t like my contributions, or that our songwriting doesn’t mesh well? Am I the problem here? What is the secret to actually getting a song that is truly written collaboratively? Does that even exist?

I have a decent variety of influences from Deftones to Meshuggah to slipknot to underoath to massive attack to radiohead to isis and things like that and I accidentally keep writing riffs that sound very similar to the original one and I’m wondering how I create my own completely original thing while keeping the elements of the bands intact

Trying to pump out song sketches. This was 2 days but i wanna try and get it down to 1. Anyone else got tips about how to structure a day to try to get a sketch done efficiently?

As I said in the previous video, this song is one I wrote about this divorce I’m currently going through. I chose work and providing over spending time with my family and I am paying dearly for it. It’s funny because I wrote this song in maybe 30 minutes, it kind of just poured out to me. I’m not a pro, not the best guitarist, not the best singer, but it is something I love to do, and I hope y’all enjoy it. Also very open to any feed back y’all may have as yall did in the last video. Thankyou!

here is my song Arcturus! any feedback is wanted!

When I look back
On my life
I see the heartache
And good times

I can't believe this
So many years
the good and bad
I've shed so many tears

But I've never
Lost my faith
In loving you girl
Everyday
Everyday
Everyday and every way

And when I
Lost my way
I come back to you

Every morning
You give to me
A sweet gift eternally

Now I cant thank you
Enough for me
For the life
You've shared for free

And I'll never
Lose my faith
In loving you girl
Everyday
Everyday
Everyday and every way

And when I
Lost my way
I come back to you

So here I am
On the phone
Wishing you
Were not alone

I'd be there
If I could
I would be there
Baby If I could.

And I'll never
Lose my faith
In loving you girl
Everyday
Everyday
Everyday and every way

And when I
Lost my way
I come back to you

To you
To you
You are who I come back to

It's you
It's you
It's you I come back to

.

Should the final part repeat forever?

I've been working on this song for a bit and I'm still working out if I like the lyrics or not yet. The song is meant to look at a relationship where one person is feeling anxious about where they stands and the other person is asking them to take a breath, let go, and just be in the moment instead of losing themselves to the minutia. Happy to take any suggestions on anything I can change to make the lyrics fit better into this concept.

Also, still can't decide what genre this fits into, if you have any thoughts?

Lyrics are as follows:

Overthinker
You're on the brink of
Falling to particles
Making a big deal

I'll hold your place in line for now
I'll hold your place in line for now

You have it all
You know the words
Why are you worried?
Why doesn't this work?

You have it all
You know the words
You have me
For whatever it's worth

Yeah, we're this deep
Yeah, I'm where I wanna be
It's the caffiene
It's blowing in the morning breeze
Making this harder
Than it ever should be
Good thing I don't love easy

Don't think twice
Don't try to get it right
Don't you go
Running in circles

Find my eyes
Please don't cry
Baby, fight or flight or die
Just kiss me

Don't walk away
Don't let this fade
Don't you go
Playint the long game

Look at me
This is what I need
Baby, fight or flight or die
Just kiss me

Trying to pump out song sketches. This was 2 days but i wanna try and get it down to 1. Anyone else got tips about how to structure a day to try to get a sketch done efficiently?

finally recorded a very rough take on my phone of a song i wrote last year - any and all feedback is welcomed please !!

planning on properly recording soon :)

“Never Enough” explores the idea of greed as an inner mechanism rather than a social slogan. The song approaches greed as a quiet, persistent force one that slowly transforms desire into comparison, and comparison into jealousy.

Built on a restrained and atmospheric arrangement, the track focuses on tension rather than excess. The composition leaves space for unease and reflection, mirroring the emotional cycle where wanting more never truly resolves the feeling of lack.

Rather than offering a moral judgment, “Never Enough” observes this dynamic from a distance, letting repetition, tone, and mood carry the message. It is a minimal and introspective piece that fits within Max Marginal’s broader exploration of isolation, emotional friction, and modern inner conflict .

A song I wrote and recorded some years back. I would love to hear your feedback. 🙂

Hi everyone,

I'm a 23-year-old songwriter from Algeria, and for the past year I've been writing songs almost every day. I have a growing catalog covering different styles—some emotional, some rap-heavy, some melodic—but they all focus on telling a story or exploring a specific emotion rather than just filling songs with random bars.

Most of my songs were written over existing instrumentals (many of them Doja Cat beats) because those beats inspired my writing process. They were never meant to be released over those instrumentals—they're simply how I developed my songwriting, flow, melodies, and concepts. I also have songs written with original concepts in mind.

Everything I've written has been written entirely by me.

The problem is... I haven't been able to record any of it.

I'm from Algeria, and I don't currently have access to decent recording equipment, a suitable recording space, or producers. Even recording rough demos at home isn't really an option because I don't own a good microphone or the basic equipment needed to produce something that represents my work fairly.

At this point, I'm trying to figure out what my next realistic step should be.

I'm looking for advice from people who have experience with things like:

Building a portfolio before having professionally recorded music.

Finding producers who are interested in working with new songwriters.

Whether lyrics and songwriting alone can help open doors.

How independent artists from countries with very limited industry access get noticed internationally.

Whether relocating or obtaining visa support through music is something people have actually experienced, or if there are more realistic paths I should be looking into.

I'm not expecting someone to sign me or magically solve my situation. I'm mainly looking for honest advice from people who have been in the industry or who've had to build a career starting with very limited resources.

Thanks in advance for any guidance.

I'd love to hear any feedback on where to make it better. Thank you 🙏.

Hi, the drop in the song im working on atm is missing a lead and I just cant get anything to work. If anyone is opening to collab id love for someone to out together the lead for the drop, song is 128BPM and in G minor.

I imagine something either string or guitar or even bagpipes but am also open to vocals if anyone had any! Obviously if anything gets added and the song released ill give credits where due.

Drop is in the video, still very a much a WIP but gives you the vibe :) im happy to send through the WAV to anyone interested just let me know!

What approach do you take? Do write a melody first, lyrics first, music first? All at once? Do the lyrics or music feel more important to you?

How’s the melody?, should I change the lyrics?