"There’s a new kid in town," as the song goes and he goes by the name Earl Agustin. With a predilection for soul and R&B, this singer-songwriter has been around a bit and past the newbie stage. But what’s new is his status as the top pop act of the moment. And all thanks to one song. 

The Ozamis City native recently took the No. 1 spot on Spotify’s Philippines Chart with his song “Tibok.” This is a first for Earl, who’s been releasing songs since 2021. Earl eventually signed to Vicor in 2023 and, in the same year, released two singles: the delectably groovy “Dalangin” with its Silk Sonic by-way of Gary Valenciano’s “Paano” vibe and “Tibok,” which Earl released as a follow-up single to his label debut.

Like his initial salvo, “Tibok” is a head bobbing mix of surging R&B beats topped with a neo soul vibe. Earl expressed his unabashed stanning for Bruno Mars and singer-drummer Anderson in early interviews. Pak, specifically the superduo’s Silk Sonic project, and fellow southerner Arthur Nery.  At the start, Earl is likened to the latter, especially because of his smooth vocal style, which indeed has similarities with the cool “Pagsamo” singer. But Earl was quick to ditch those comparisons by the simple expedient of embracing mid-tempo R&B tinged soul music, as evidenced by subsequent singles “Dalangin” and “Aya” which the singer released to mark his 2024 campaign. 

Earl is one of those stories. You know, where an artist releases a song, gets some warm reception, a respectable review here and there and goes back to the grindstone and does the process over again. Rinse and repeat as they say. 

And that’s exactly what happened to “Tibok.” It took almost two years, but the song eventually found its way to TikTok where users “used it as a happy love song,” said Earl. “Which was funny, because I wrote it when I was really heartbroken,” added the singer. Then there was the inclusion of it on Viva One’s “Ang Mutya Ng Section E” soundtrack. According to a Vicor label executive, it was the latter that eventually sealed the deal for Earl Agustin’s “Tibok.” “‘Twas a case of the song helping the series and vice versa.” 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMEXCM1_XtQ

Earl, as a newly minted hitmaker, is all so new to the soul singer-songwriter. “Of course it’s giving me giddy feelings, this was totally unexpected as I never really dreamed about this. I’m already happy that I was able to release my songs in the first place,” said the singer in Tagalog.    

Besides holding the top spot on the Spotify’s Philippine charts, Earl also broke the all-time record for the biggest single day streaming peak for an OPM song on the platform’s chart history with 1.8 million listens as well as jumping into the Top OPM Artists and Viral Songs Global charts at No. 6 and now has 3 out of his 4 songs surging on Spotify’s Top 50. “Tibok” also steadily beats Apple Music’s Philippine chart. 

“I’m happy how listeners are using it on TikTok. They’re using “Tibok” to express their feelings when they can’t admit it yet. They’re hoping their crush can see their post,” adding, “and that’s been my objective from the very start of my writing. I’ve always strived for a shared human experience element in my songs.” Released by Vicor Music, “Tibok” is produced by Jean Paul Verona, arranged by Kim Lopez, and written by Earl.