Phil Taylor (Music Observer)
@musicobserver.bsky.social
** AI free ** Loving music! Supporting independent artists 🎶 Music blogger at musicobserved.substack.com 🎶 Music editor @leftlion.bsky.social 🎵 Writer @clashmusic.com @diymag.com therealmusicobserver (at) gmail (dot) com
Hana is released today - as in the new EP by Hana Lili 🏴 🤘 Here’s the chat I had with her recently for @clashmusic.com www.clashmusic.com/next-wave/ne...
Next Wave #1182: Hana Lili | Next Wave | Clash Magazine Music News, Reviews & Interviews
Metamorphosis is never simple. It’s the end of a phase and a new beginning; a continuation of life and at the same time the emergence of a new one. That
clashmusic.com
I spent some time with Ella Clayton recently. She is one of my favourite singer-songwriters in the UK, and it was wonderful to learn more about her background, her writing and her inspirations ahead of the release of her new album in a couple of weeks. Please read! open.substack.com/pub/musicobs...
Ella Clayton on music and the power of words [Interview]
In conversation with the soulful folk specialist ahead of her debut album release
open.substack.com
I spent some time with Ella Clayton recently. She is one of my favourite singer-songwriters in the UK, and it was wonderful to learn more about her background, her writing and her inspirations ahead of the release of her new album in a couple of weeks. Please read! open.substack.com/pub/musicobs...
Ella Clayton on music and the power of words [Interview]
In conversation with the soulful folk specialist ahead of her debut album release
open.substack.com
The idea that a band may have an intrinsic, essential core, a vital ethos that makes them them, is an intriguing one… I am genuinely excited to share that my first ever @thelineofbestfit.com byline is now online! Read all about the awesome Girl Scout here: www.thelineofbestfit.com/features/int...
Girl Scout: “95% of Swedish kids get ABBA shoved down their throats” | Interview
Stockholm's Girl Scout formulate their light-dark crashouts into creative freedom.
thelineofbestfit.com
Did you know I publish a weekly post with new music, a video and some recommended reading? Here's today's! musicobserved.substack.com/p/no-groundh...
No groundhogs here: The MOnday (2.2.26)
I'm not Punxsutawney Phil, but I predict several months of great new music... today, we've got Grace Calver, Hunter as A Horse, Mia Wray and The Rural Alberta Advantage
musicobserved.substack.com
Yana Couto is a Polish musician working with piano and field recordings. She was one of the artists I met at ESNS. I spoke to her about her unique approach to music and the importance of "salt" in life... musicobserved.substack.com/p/yana-couto...
Yana Couto: Salt, music and the beauty of every day [Interview]
A Polish music-maker doing things differently
musicobserved.substack.com
I got back on Saturday from 3 days in Groningen at ESNS (aka Eurosonic), one of the most fun, mind-blowing, musical gatherings and a very cool way to start 2026. I discovered loads of new artists - you can read all about it on @clashmusic.com ... www.clashmusic.com/live/live-re...
Live Report: ESNS 2026 | Live | Clash Magazine Music News, Reviews & Interviews
Mind blowing choices immersed in the future of music... The trouble with going to a festival with more than 300 artists, from 39 countries, performing at
clashmusic.com
A labyrinth of new music, ESNS continues to be the best place to discover fresh talent - Phil Taylor picks out the highlights from this year's trip to Groningen... www.clashmusic.com/live/live-re...
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
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
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
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
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
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...
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...
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
Ellur has a brilliant new EP out today!
Nigel King Photography@nigelking.photography · 11mo agoMy photos of Ellur, with Fright Years, and Cara Flynn at The @bodeganotts.bsky.social last week with this review by @musicobserver.bsky.social for @leftlion.bsky.social Magazine Nottingham leftlion.co.uk/features/202...
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...
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
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
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
