It doesn’t feel all that long since rising OPM singer-songwriter Earl Agustin released his debut single, “Dalangin,” a grooving tune with a 70s-inspired sound. The single was later followed by more nostalgic-sounding hits, including “Tibok,” which explored the uncertainties of romance, and smash hits “Aya” and “Dito Sa’kin,” which both exude themes of quiet yearning and devotion.

This month, just as he hit his 90th day as the Top OPM Male Artist on Spotify, Earl dropped his debut album “Himig Ng Pag-Ibig” and it’s already broken records, being the biggest Filipino album debut in Spotify history with over 2.015 billion streams!

The Beat Manila got to attend a listening party with the singer-songwriter from Ozamiz City last June 11 — a few days before the album dropped on the 13th. The new record is made up of 10 songs, five of which have already been released as singles, so that gave us five new tracks to immerse ourselves in, all of which were composed by the artist himself. When asked why it was named this way, the singer had a simple answer:

“Those are the two things I love the most: Pag-ibig (love) and himig (music).”

The album combines retro pop sounds and R&B stylings, which can be heard more vocally as Earl infuses each track with his signature melodic sincerity. The collection is an ode to love and all its stages, from the budding feelings of anticipation and uncertainties to the heartbreaking ends and hopeful "maybe somedays."

It opens with an instrumental intro that sets the tone for the record’s overall sound before diving straight into “Tayong Dalawa.” The song cleverly uses various literary devices to describe the journey of a relationship — the highs, lows, and even doubts as it progresses. The upbeat and almost joyful melody provided an interesting balance with the vulnerable message, showcasing Earl’s talent for unfeigned lyricism.

The song was followed by “Dito Sa-kin,” another previously released track embodying a modern yet vintage sound as the instrumentation nods to classic 70s-era Manila sound, layered with contemporary soulful rhythms and mellow bass lines. This was tied together by Earl’s warm and velvety vocals, making this mid-tempo groove a cozy and heartfelt track ideal for late-night listening.

Following the track is a Bisaya song called “Basin Puhon,” which is loosely translated as “Maybe Someday.” In a previous interview with The Beat Manila, Earl mentioned how he wanted to be known as an artist who wrote honest and real songs, and this fourth track is what he deemed as his most raw and personal one yet.

“There are things that I can’t really say in Cebuano or Bisaya,” the artist shared during his listening party. “There’s this kind of intensity or degree — lalim (depth) of lyrics or a line that I can push out in Cebuano or Bisaya but find difficult to translate in Tagalog. So, this song is just my raw emotions.”

“Aya” and Earl’s debut track “Dalangin” follow in suit, adding to the album’s rich emotional palette. The latter has long been a favorite of ours, with its bright and uplifting tonality and the R&B retro pop fusion reminiscent of 70s or 80s Manila sound. It’s a ballad, for sure, one that perfectly accompanies the heartfelt mood and lyrics of the song, which expresses longing and devotion for someone he deemed to be the answer to his prayers.

The seventh track features a standout collaboration with singer-songwriter Dana Paulene as they deliver a soulful acoustic sound with “Minamahal.” In our exclusive interview with the emerging female artist, she talked about her experience in creating this heartfelt track.

“It was an interesting experience because we weren't really planning to collaborate, and we weren't initially open to it at first because we're used to working alone,” she shared. “So, when the collaboration happened, we just went into the studio. Earl pitched a chord progression that he made years ago, and then we started writing lyrics. But then it wasn't really working out. So we wrote our parts at separate times in two separate rooms, and then we just combined the lyrics on our own.”

After hearing the track, it was hard to believe they had recorded separately, considering how beautifully matched their tones were and how the entire song felt whole and compact. It's definitely one of our favorites on the album.

“Tibok” is no stranger to listeners with its infectious sound that has made waves on various digital platforms, catapulting Earl to the top and marking him as the first Filipino artist to achieve numerous streaming milestones. It being part of the soundtrack of the popular Viva series, “Mutya ng Section E,” only added to its popularity. The chart-topping song is a lush fusion of funk pop and R&B, a sound that nods to Grammy-winning artist Silk Sonic and the neo-soul vibe. Despite its uplifting sound, the lyrics narrate an emotional roller coaster of a budding crush that fades into a bittersweet uncertainty. The fade-out ending was a clever choice, too, mimicking how their conversation had eventually ebbed into silence.

Two fresh tracks close the album: “Pag-Ibig ng Ikaw at Ako” is a tender song reflecting a shared love, while “Suntok Sa Buwan” is a hopeful end to the roller coaster of emotions we’ve experienced through the record’s playthrough. Although both songs were well-produced and embodied the signature Earl Agustin sound, they lacked the punch his previous singles have given, which made them a little less memorable.

Old Sounds Made Anew

Overall, Earl Agustin’s debut LP is a standout in the OPM genre today, with the mainstream scene mostly made up of P-Pop and ballads. It’s refreshing to hear these nostalgic sounds again, and we applaud the artist for breathing new life into the retro Manila sound, allowing the new generation to appreciate its unique, soulful rhythm wrapped in meaningful lyrics.

Although if we were to say one thing, we had hoped for a tighter storytelling. The track list could’ve been arranged in such a way that it takes listeners on a journey through the stages of love — from falling for someone to experiencing uncertainties and falling out of love, for example. The songs were already there; it was a matter of putting them in the right order.

However, the record was well-produced, overall, and we believe it had done its purpose of introducing Earl’s musical identity while also solidifying his place in today’s OPM landscape. The album not only gave us good songs, but also showcased the artist’s ability to articulate complicated emotions through compositions with honest storytelling and brimming with feel-good but also intimate vibes. If late-night conversations had a soundtrack, it would be this.

You can listen to Earl Agustin’s new album on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, and on other major digital music platforms.

For updates on performances and new releases, follow Earl on Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram.