Phil Taylor (Music Observer)
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musicobserver.bsky.social
Phil Taylor (Music Observer)
@musicobserver.bsky.social
150 followers 110 following 64 posts
Loving music! Supporting independent artists

🎶 Music blogger musicobserved.substack.com

🎶 Music editor @leftlion.bsky.social

🎵 Writer @clashmusic.com @diymag.com @thesongbirdhq.bsky.social 🎶

therealmusicobserver (at) gmail (dot) com
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musicobserver.bsky.social
10 artists, 7 questions... My end of year special is now online!
Find out musicians' thoughts on Secret Santa, best gifts ever, plans for 2026, and of course whether it really should be Christmas every day...

musicobserved.substack.com/p/christmas-...
Christmas every day...
Really, would that be a good thing? Musicians answer this and other vital questions
musicobserved.substack.com
December 22, 2025 at 3:50 PM
musicobserver.bsky.social
My final top 10!! The songs that meant most to me this year …

musicobserved.substack.com/p/songs-of-t...
Songs of the year: The Music Observer 10
My 10 top tracks of 2025
musicobserved.substack.com
December 19, 2025 at 2:20 PM
musicobserver.bsky.social
We’ve arrived - the Music Observer end of the year lists are here! Starting today with EPs… 10 top picks and some honourable mentions too… Ready to read now

musicobserved.substack.com/p/eps-of-the...
EPs of the year: The Music Observer 10
The best EPs of 2025
musicobserved.substack.com
December 10, 2025 at 9:57 PM
musicobserver.bsky.social
A random Gracie post today

open.substack.com/pub/musicobs...
Is this the best Gracie Abrams song ever?
Cedar is exquisitely simple
open.substack.com
December 4, 2025 at 5:56 PM
musicobserver.bsky.social
Another @diymagazine.bsky.social NEU Bulletin out today! Thrilled to see my Cliffords mini-review heading it up this time :)

diymag.com/feature/the-...
The Neu Bulletin (Cliffords, Florence Road, Blossom Caldarone and more!)
DIY’s essential guide to the best new music.
diymag.com
November 24, 2025 at 3:52 PM
musicobserver.bsky.social
Last year I selected 8 artists who I thought should be followed in 2025 — Today I’m revisiting them to see how it worked out…

musicobserved.substack.com/p/revisited-...
Eight exciting artists revisited
How did my predictions work out?
musicobserved.substack.com
November 22, 2025 at 5:29 PM
Reposted by Phil Taylor (Music Observer)
clashmusic.com
Live Report: Live At Leeds - In The City 2025

Karl Blakesley goes in search of the next big thing - KEO, Child Of Prague, Last Train (and more!) prove to be highlights...

www.clashmusic.com/live/live-re...
November 17, 2025 at 10:30 AM
musicobserver.bsky.social
open.substack.com/pub/musicobs...
Roller Disco Death Party: Electronic chaos and live energy
An exclusive interview with the electro-duo
open.substack.com
November 14, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Reposted by Phil Taylor (Music Observer)
clashmusic.com
Played Cymru is our in-depth look at the Welsh music scene...

This month, Tom Morgan profiles The Family Battenberg, Po Griff, Asidhara, Hollow Blessings, CATTY + Why Horses?

www.clashmusic.com/features/pla...
November 6, 2025 at 3:07 PM
musicobserver.bsky.social
Holly Humberstone: Die Happy

open.substack.com/pub/musicobs...
Holly Humberstone: Die Happy
Romance isn’t dead
open.substack.com
November 6, 2025 at 11:23 AM
musicobserver.bsky.social
Some thoughts on last week‘s @adwaithmusic.bsky.social gig at the legendary 100 Club!

open.substack.com/pub/musicobs...
Adwaith: The 100 Club, London [Live]
Dragons under the streets of London
open.substack.com
November 5, 2025 at 11:17 AM
musicobserver.bsky.social
Ellur has a brilliant new EP out today!
November 4, 2025 at 8:36 AM
musicobserver.bsky.social
Yesterday I somehow managed to publish my regular Monday new music post despite a very hard day. Have a read! Coincidentally, all the artists I featured are from Scotland…

open.substack.com/pub/musicobs...
November 4, 2025 at 8:35 AM
musicobserver.bsky.social
I write quite a lot outside of my Substack blog. One of my favourites is the @diymagazine.bsky.social Neu Bulletin — short (~100 word) reviews of new music. It’s always a great list.

I wrote two for this week’s edition (Chloe Qisha and Cardinals)...

diymag.com/feature/the-...
The Neu Bulletin (Cardinals, Mei Semones, Chloe Qisha and more!)
DIY’s essential guide to the best new music.
diymag.com
October 28, 2025 at 10:31 AM
musicobserver.bsky.social
Whether Monday is just beginning or ending for you, check out my new post with lots of new music recommendations…

musicobserved.substack.com/p/treat-or-t...
Treat or treat: The MOnday 27.10.25
New music from Ber, CATTY, Charlotte Carpenter, Hana Lili, Loupe and Sigrid
musicobserved.substack.com
October 27, 2025 at 3:45 PM
musicobserver.bsky.social
open.substack.com/pub/musicobs...
Albums I should have listened to by now: Hot Fuss
Not quite a fatal blow from The Killers
open.substack.com
October 25, 2025 at 10:02 AM
musicobserver.bsky.social
This is what a small and brilliant music festival looks like

open.substack.com/pub/musicobs...
This is what a small, brilliant music festival looks like
Honestly, I don't work for Twisterella
open.substack.com
October 23, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Reposted by Phil Taylor (Music Observer)
clashmusic.com
Live Report: Twisterella Festival

All eyes are on the North East this month - what better time to soak up new music in Middlesborough, then?

Phil Taylor picks out the key sets -

www.clashmusic.com/live/live-re...
October 20, 2025 at 11:26 AM
musicobserver.bsky.social
I'm back with more new music stuff - have a read:
musicobserved.substack.com/p/this-serve...
This server's not down: The MOnday 20.10.25
Back and catching up, with new music from
musicobserved.substack.com
October 20, 2025 at 2:25 PM
musicobserver.bsky.social
It’s that time of year again … Twisterella is a small multi venue festival that punches well above … I’ve written a bit about it here:

musicobserved.substack.com/p/twisterell...
Twisterella is my happy place
More than just a metro festival
musicobserved.substack.com
October 8, 2025 at 7:43 AM
musicobserver.bsky.social
Calling independent artists! If you’re looking for some support and feedback on publicising your music without spending a fortune, I think I can help!

musicobserved.substack.com/p/how-to-sta...
How to stand out: My services for artists
Photo by Marija Zaric on Unsplash
musicobserved.substack.com
October 2, 2025 at 4:32 PM
musicobserver.bsky.social
I caught up with Americana-meets-pop/rock artist Amber Saqladi recently, to find out about her newest music and delve a bit deeper into what makes her tick.

She shared some great stories and insights...
musicobserved.substack.com/p/letting-go...
Letting go of the outcome: Amber Saqladi [Interview]
Time to catch up about all things 'Liquor', creative serendipity and music that heals
musicobserved.substack.com
September 29, 2025 at 2:45 PM
musicobserver.bsky.social
One of the best albums of the year is finally out. SPRINTS - All That Is Over.

Also, you know when you actually really like your own writing? That’s how I feel about this review! Check it out:

musicobserved.substack.com/p/sprints-al...
SPRINTS: All That Is Over [Album]
SPRINTS may just have created the album of the year.
musicobserved.substack.com
September 26, 2025 at 9:57 AM
Reposted by Phil Taylor (Music Observer)
leftlion.bsky.social
In town this weekend? If so we'd highly recommend you making a trip to see the 'Relic' exhibition by Kid30 and friends . It's open til Sunday, free to get in and likely to be one of those 'we were there' moments...

leftlion.co.uk/features/202...
Exhibition review: Relic at 28 Broad Street
Kid30 and friends bring you an immersive, bleak and humourous take on the future in this pop-up exhibition showing this weekend only in Nottingham City Centre...
leftlion.co.uk
September 19, 2025 at 4:45 PM
musicobserver.bsky.social
I’ve got news…
My brand new zine is out now!

Download below (all free) ⬇️

musicobserved.substack.com/p/music-obse...
Music Observer: The Zine
It’s here. Edition 1, available to all.
musicobserved.substack.com
September 19, 2025 at 9:33 AM