For the most part, it’s not difficult to predict the next song that would top the charts. Whether it’s steadily climbing up the ranks or stirring up conversations online, there are always telling signs for the next top ten hit. But every once and a while, there’s an unassuming gem that zooms up out of nowhere, taking over the masses in the blink of an eye — much like Earl Agustin‘s “Tibok.”
After finding viral success as part of the soundtrack of the Filipino teen romance series, Ang Mutya Ng Section E, the heartfelt love song made an impressive debut on the Philippines Hot 100 on the week of March 22, 2025 at No. 9. With its catchy melody and scenic lyrics, “Tibok” shot up to No. 1 the following week, overtaking chart mainstays like JENNIE, Kendrick Lamar, TJ Monterde, and Dionela. Almost instantly, Agustin has captured the hearts of millions across the country as he sings of a love so pure, warm, and simply beautiful.
Beyond “Tibok,” several other gems from his discography occupy significant placements on the Philippines Hot 100 — including “Dalangin,” which sits at No. 10, and “Dito Sa’Kin,” which ranks at No. 24 (on the week of April 26, 2025).
In short, in just a couple of weeks, Earl Agustin has become one of the most promising and exciting names in Filipino music today.
As he continues to enchant the country, we sit down with the young singer-songwriter to find out how life has been since topping the charts, the story behind “Tibok,” and how his genuine love for OPM kicked off his career.
Walk us through how you first fell in love with music.
Earl Agustin: I started writing songs during the pandemic. That was when I started to listen to more OPM and got into a community where they held virtual gigs and concerts.
Having lived in my hometown, where original music did not really thrive or was given enough value, me and my friends decided to create a group. The goal was to start an initiative where we reached out to artists and songwriters in our city, and hopefully put out original songs and help open the eyes of the locals to enjoy original written songs by local artists.
Being around my friends really inspired me to start writing my own songs, until eventually, I was discovered on social media by an A&R of a recording company, and I decided that I wanted to give it a chance. That was when I decided to pursue it as a career, to see where it would take me.
What artists did you listen to the most while growing up, and how did they inspire the music that you make today?
Growing up I listened to a lot of Westlife because of my brother, and Air Supply because of my mother. Later in high school, I listened to a lot of slow rock bands and eventually got into R&B. For me, I think that I resonated more with R&B and it definitely influenced the way I make music today. I just loved the feel of soul music and eventually I found myself going deeper into it, listening to Marvin Gaye, The Switch, James Brown, and newer bands with Old Soul vibes like Silk Sonic and The Free Label.
But my music is mainly influenced by the songwriting and the music of Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak) with a hint of classic OPM acts like VST & Company and APO Hiking Society. I just fell in love with the retro style of music and the straightforward storytelling of songs which is what I am trying to do as well in my songs.
In your own words, how would you describe the music that you make?
My music is retro pop-R&B, [with] a touch of nostalgia from music in the early ’70s to [the] ’90s, filled with stories of shared human experiences on love. With my music, I just hope to write songs that people can express their thoughts and feelings to — if not with the words/lyrics, then with the melody and music itself.
I just want to write songs and music that is real to me and to everybody that hears it.
Congratulations on the success of “Tibok.” Did you think that it would resonate with listeners as much as it did?
The song ‘Tibok’ was actually written years ago — [in] 2022, I think. It was just about an experience that I had with a crush that had me go through mixed emotions and feelings. This
The song was just me pouring out every thought and emotion that I had a the time. I was not thinking whether it was something that would be relatable to people that to get to listen to the song, I just wanted to write down what I was going through and make art out of it. I was surprised when people started sharing their thoughts and own experiences that were related to the song and some plainly just enjoying the music. It was surreal, truly an insane experience. Super blessed and happy for all that the song is achieving.
You released “Tibok” in 2023, but it gained immense popularity after being featured in Ang Mutya Ng Section E. What is it like seeing a song you released two years ago blow up now?
The series definitely helped push the song to a wider audience, but before that, the song already had a couple million streams and was widely used in different contents on social media — whether by influencers or videos shipping love teams.
With the success of the series, it truly is a blessing to have the song be a part in it and I could not be any happier that it reached a wider audience and eventually found its way to other listeners that enjoy this kind of music.
When I read on social media that the song had topped the charts, I was very surprised and had a difficult time processing what was happening. I was not expecting any of it to happen, and I did not think that it was possible. It was definitely a life changing event, and I feel super blessed with all that the song is achieving.
How has life changed for you since going viral with “Tibok”?
Just hearing my songs being played everywhere, in stores, on social media contents, in public spaces, is a very surreal experience. It is something that I did not expect or think to be possible to happen to a small artist like me. Playing in gigs has definitely become a lot more fun now that the crowd knows the lyrics to the songs that I play, the way that that lights up a smile on their faces when they hear the songs is a blessing to me. I love performing even more.
Your music and songwriting paints such a beautiful picture of love, even inspiring this feeling of warmth and comfort when you listen to it. What inspires your songwriting process? What does your music-making process look like?
When writing songs, I always try to be candid about the lyrics that I write; incorporating personal experiences and what I think to be are shared human experiences on love. When I do start writing, though, there are times when I think of the words first; sometimes the melody comes first, sometimes it comes simultaneously.
You take inspiration from your personal experiences — much like how “Tibok” was made. How does it feel to share something so personal with millions of people to listen to?
Putting out music that is personal to me almost feels freeing. It is like putting a part of myself out there, but then again the things that I write are about the shared human experience, so that thing that is personal to me may be something that is experienced by another. That makes it a universal experience, but also personal… if that makes any sense. (Laughs)
You previously mentioned that your love for OPM eventually inspired you to make music today. What is it about Filipino music that you love the most? What makes it so special?
OPM just touches a part of my soul differently, it is a beautiful experience. The same kind of experience I want my listeners to have when they listen to my music!
What’s your biggest dream as an artist? In the next five years, where do you hope to see yourself and your music?
My dream as an artist is to be able to perform everywhere, put out more songs, and collaborate with artists. The dream is to keep creating, making music that is real. The dream is to share it.
In the next five years, I hope my music still sounds like it does when it first came out. My dream for my music is to become timeless, whether people listen to it in five years, ten years, [or] twenty years, I hope it feels and resonates the way it does today.
What are some of your plans for the rest of the year? Do you have any major releases lined up? Are there any milestones you want to hit this 2025?
For the rest of the year, I have more releases lined up, possible collaborations, and a ton of songs I wrote that I want to put out. I hope to perform to a wider audience and do more shows.
The goal is to solidify my name in the music industry this year.
Listen to Earl Agustin’s chart-topping “Tibok” here:
