Zack Tabudlo

Zack Tabudlo was born on December 6, 2001, in Las Piñas, Metro Manila, into a family with a strong musical background. His father was a band member in college, and his mother, a hotel singer, gifted him his first guitar, which he learned to play via YouTube. Tabudlo’s musical journey began at age 10 as a finalist on ‘Talentadong Pinoy.’ In 2014, at 12, he appeared on the first season of ‘The Voice Kids,’ under Bamboo Mañalac’s mentorship, where he progressed to the Battle Rounds. This experience fueled his ambition, leading him to channel his emotions into songwriting. He formed the group Gravity, writing the local hit “Imposible,” before performing as half of the duo Zack and Fritz, releasing “Ikaw ang Pangarap Ko.”

In the period from 2018 to 2020, Tabudlo worked as a ghost producer for various international artists, a role that offered no public credit but honed his production skills. Encouraged by his father, who also became his manager, he shifted focus to writing Tagalog songs. He collaborated with Sharlene San Pedro on “Everything Will Be Alright” and “Pusong Naliligaw,” performing the latter on ‘iWant ASAP.’ His solo career began to take shape in 2020 when he joined Spotify’s RADAR program and became the first artist signed by Island Records Philippines. His debut single, “Nangangamba,” released that year, gained significant traction and eventually went viral on TikTok. This marked a turning point, showcasing his potential as a solo artist with a unique blend of genres.

The years 2020 to 2022 were Tabudlo’s breakout period. He released “Iyong-Iyo” and “Elizabeth” in 2021 before “Binibini” achieved widespread success, becoming the longest-running number one local track by a Filipino RADAR artist on Spotify Philippines and charting in Canada, Singapore, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. An English version of “Binibini” featuring James TW further expanded its reach. His debut album, ‘Episode,’ released on October 15, 2021, featured 14 tracks exploring themes of heartbreak and anxiety. His track “Pano” became the longest-running number one OPM song on Spotify Philippines and the first to debut at number one on the Billboard Philippines Songs chart, also charting in Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam. In 2022, he signed with Republic Records Philippines, performed at Expo 2020 Dubai, and was named the most-streamed local artist in the Philippines. He continued to release new music, including collaborations with Moira Dela Torre on “Iba” and singles that entered Spotify Malaysia’s Top 50, such as “Pano.” He collaborated with Indonesian singer Tiara Andini and Malaysian rapper Yonnyboii, performed with LANY, and closed the year at the Head in the Clouds Festival in Manila.