The Rise And Rise Of Lay Zhang

The growing popularity of the Mandarin singer is an indication that Chinese pop could be the next big thing to come out of Asia

- Riddhi Chakraborty

Lay Zhang’s duality is truly a thing of wonder. If you watch the music video for his new single “Give Me A Chance,” the Chinese pop star is all raw sex appeal with his sleek choreography, smooth R&B and sensual lyrics. When it comes to an actual conversation with him however, he’s quick to shed that image and trade it in for something a little dorkier: “I want everybody to give me a chance. You know, ‘Give Me A Chance,’ like my song?” It’s only been a few minutes since we started talking and he’s already dropped a dad joke. There’s an innocence to it all that’s quite endearing and it becomes impossible not to laugh along with him.

It is four days after the release of his second studio album NAMANANA and Zhang is Skyping from Beijing. “Did you like it?” he asks when I congratulate him on the record. “You know I made the beats, right?” In addition to solo promotions around his own album, Zhang’s been busy with the Chinese version of his group EXO’s fifth studio LP Don’t Mess Up My Tempo (which dropped on November 2nd), fan meets in the U.S. and several other commitments he needs keep before the month ends. There’s no time to stop and take a breath—and this particular itinerary doesn’t even include his schedules as an actor. Despite all this, he has ton of energy and a big smile on his face. How does he do it? “If I take some time to make music in between, it helps me balance everything and gives me strength,” he replies brightly.