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Zhang Yixing (张艺兴), known professionally as Lay Zhang, is a Chinese music producer, singer, dancer and actor. He is also the founder and CEO of his own entertainment company, Chromosome Entertainment Group (染色体娱乐集团)
Name: Zhang Yixing (张艺兴)
Birth Name: Zhang Jiashuai (张加帅)
Nicknames: 小绵羊 (little sheep), 长沙小骄傲 (Changsha's little pride)
Stage Name: Lay / Lay Zhang
Birthdate: 7th Oct 1991
Hometown: Changsha, Hunan, China
Zodiac Signs: Sheep (Chinese), Libra (Astrological)
Height: 176cm
Associated Companies: Lay Zhang Studio (Zhang Yixing Studio), Chromosome Entertainment Group
Fandom: X'BACK / Beiker (贝壳), Xingmi (兴迷)
pre-debut
Lay’s first known acting role was as Huan Huan in the 1998 Chinese television drama We The People, when he was 6-years old.
He later gained recognition as a local child star after participating and winning 3rd place in the Chinese television talent show Star Academy in 2005.
In 2008, he successfully auditioned for SM Entertainment at the company's global casting auditions in Wuhan, and subsequently moved to South Korea for his idol training.
Before his official debut with EXO, he had performed with SHINee during the SHINee World Tour as SHINee member Jonghyun's dance replacement.
EXO
Position: Main dancer, sub-vocalist, sub-rapper
Trainee Period: 4 years (2008 -2012)
Reveal Date: 16th January 2012 (Teaser 10)
Debut Date: 8th April 2012
EXO Number: 10
EXO Power: Healing
Associated Symbol: Unicorn
Contract Period: 10 years (2012-2022)
Lay debuted on 8 April 2012 as a member of South Korean-Chinese K-pop boy group EXO, and its Chinese subgroup EXO-M, under SM Entertainment.
He was given the stage name "Lay" (Korean: 레이), which he explained was adapted from a character named Huaze Lei in the Taiwanese idol drama Meteor Garden who "is talented and likes music quite a bit".
Lay made his last public appearance with EXO in the Hong Kong concerts of their world tour EXO Planet #3 – The Exo'rdium in February 2017. His activities with the group were halted due to rising tensions between China and South Korea over THAAD, although the official reason provided by SM Entertainment on 13 June 2017 is due to “conflicting schedules with his solo activities in China”.
He made a brief appearance in EXO’s “Tempo” music video, the title track off their fourth album Don't Mess Up My Tempo, in November 2018, and contributed vocals to the Chinese version of the song.
Lay returned in EXO’s “Don’t Fight the Feeling” comeback on 7 June 2021, and participated in all tracks of the special album Don’t Fight the Feeling. He also featured in the music video for the title song "Don't Fight the Feeling".
On 8 April 2022, marking his 10th debut anniversary, Lay posted a written letter in English and Korean on Twitter and Instagram announcing his departure from SM Entertainment.
Lay zhang Studio
张艺兴工作室
On 1 April 2015, Lay established his personal studio, which serves as a management agency and record label for his activities
Chromosome Entertainment Group
染色体娱乐集团
On 7 October 2020, the day of his 29th birthday, Lay officially announced the establishment of his own entertainment company, Chromosome Entertainment Group, and the launch of the company's trainee selection program.
Music
Lay has written, composed and produced all the songs in his solo albums, as well as numerous singles and OSTs. He also holds composition credits for songs released by Karen Mok, Yu Quan and MC Jin.
THE-CIRCLE
Starting from his very first solo mini-album Lose Control, Lay introduced the concept of "The Circle" in his self-produced solo albums. Each of his first four physical albums acts as a puzzle piece to ultimately form a circle containing the Chinese character "爺", meaning "Lord". The completion of the circle with the release of his fourth physical album Lit signifies the end to a cycle of his solo career over the span of 6 years, and that he has now become his own "Lord".
solo concert Tour
GRAND LINE | 大航海
Lay embarked on his first solo concert tour Grand Line: The First Concert ("大航海" 世界巡回演唱会) in July 2019, with five stops in China and one international stop in Bangkok, Thailand.
On 23 July 2022, Lay kicked off his second solo concert tour with a free online concert Grand Line: Set Sail Firework. That same year, Grand Line 2: Infinite Lands was announced, with stops in Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and San Francisco, USA.
Since then, he has held two more concert tours - Grand Line 3: Boundless Journey in 2023, and Grand Line 4: STEP in 2024.
TELEVISION & FILM
Lay is also an actor, and has starred in multiple dramas and films. He was nominated for the Best New Actor Award at the 22nd Huading Awards in 2017 for his debut television debut role as aspiring chef Xiao Cai in the Chinese television series To Be A Better Man, won the Best Supporting Actor award at the 2016 China Britain Film Festival for his film debut role as Lee Xianghe in the Chinese romantic comedy movie Ex-Files 2: The Backup Strikes Back, and also won the Best Supporting Actor award at the 25th Huading Awards in 2019 for his performance as Ma Xiaoxing in the hit film The Island. In 2024, he was nominated for Best Male Actor at the 37th Hundred Flowers Awards for his role as Pan Sheng in the movie No More Bets.
Lay has been part of the cast of numerous variety shows. His most notable variety appearances was as a regular cast member for the first six seasons of the Chinese reality television show Go Fighting, which led to increased recognition for him in China and the nickname of Little Sheep (小绵羊), and as mentor and production director on iQiyi's talent survival reality show Idol Producer (2018) and its second season Youth with You (2019), where his professionalism and expertise earned him the title of the Nation's PD. He is still addressed as Zhang PD by many outside of the show's context.
events
Lay attended the 61st Annual Grammy Awards as a promotion ambassador on 10 February 2019, and was the only Chinese celebrity invited to the red carpet event and live ceremony.
That same year, he made his first appearance at the 2019 Met Gala in New York City as an ambassador of Valentino, wearing a custom-made suit titled "Time Traveller" which was designed by Valentino Creative Director Pierpaolo Piccioli.
Lay made his maiden appearance on the CCTV Spring Gala Festival in 2017 and was subsequently invited back every year since. In 2021, he performed a new song "Picture Scroll (画卷)", which was specially composed for the Spring Gala Festival, and was the only artist invited to have the honour of a solo stage.
Standing firm at 24
In 2015, Lay published an autobiography, Standing Firm at 24, which documents important events throughout his life up until he was 24. In the book, he revealed that he had struggled with anxiety when performing on stage when he first debuted, but was able to face his fears and overcome them through his dedication to training, as well as working hard alongside the rest of his EXO members.
He became the youngest celebrity author to enter the Chinese Celebrity Writers List, was the champion of the Annual Celebrity Book Sales in 2015, and took the top spot of Asia's Best Books twice during its monthly ranking and six times on the weekly chart.
awards & achievements
Music Awards
2024
Tencent Music Uni Chart
Singer-Songwriter of the Year
Album of the Year - D.N.A
EP of the Year - The Direction
2023
Tencent Music Entertainment Awards
Popular Digital EP of the Year - West
Weibo Music Awards
Producer of the Year
Recommended MV of the Year - Veil
Recommended Concert of the Year - Grand Line III • Boundless Journey Concert Tour
Recommended Singer of the Year
2022
Weibo Music Awards
Recommended Singer of the Year
Warmest Accompanying Radio Host of the Year - Lay’s Moon Night Radio
Recommended MV of the Year - Nobody Cares by Wang Feng Feat. Lay & GAI
Recommended Concert of the Year - Grand Line II • Infinite Lands
Recommended Song of the Year - Flying Apsaras
Most Capable Artist of the Year
2021
13th Chinese Golden Melody Awards
Top 10 Chinese Albums - Lit
Top 10 Chinese Songs - Jade
Best Chinese Album of the Year - Lit
28th Chinese Top Ten Music Awards
Best Producer
Best Album - Lit
Best Male Singer
Top Ten Golden Melodies - Jade
APMA 2021 Asian Pop Music Awards
Top 20 Albums of the Year - East
People's Choice Award - Chinese - East
Douyin Awards
Best Music Producer of the Year
2020
Boom Boom Awards
All Around Producer of the Year
Popular Pop Singer of the Year
ERC Chinese Top Ten Awards
Most Popular EP - Honey
Best Concert - Grandline: The First Concert
Best Producer
Asia's Most Influential Male Artist
Tencent Music Entertainment Awards
Most Popular Digital Album of the Year - Lit
Top China Music Billboard
Best Album - Lit
Weibo Night Awards
Producer of the
2019
ERC Chinese Top Ten Awards
Top Ten Gold Songs - Namanana
iQIYI Scream Night Awards
Asia's All Around Artist Award
Producer of the Year - Namanana
Pop Music Gold Chart Annual Festival
Best Music Arrangement of the Year - Namanana
Tencent Music Entertainment Awards
Top Singer Award
Best Selling Digital Album of the Year - Namanana
Most Popular Male Singer
2018
Annual Power Fashion Awards
Producer of the Year
ERC Chinese Top Ten Awards
Album of the Year - Lay 02 Sheep
Most Popular Male Artist
Producer of the Year
2017
Billboard Radio China
Top 10 Chinese Songs of the Year - Sheep
Tencent Video Star Awards
Album of the Year - Lay 02 Sheep
V Chart Awards
Top Male Artist (Mainland)
Best Album of the Year - Lose Control
2016
Top Chinese Music Awards
Best OST of the Year - Alone
Best Newcomer Award
V Chart Awards
Best Film Song of the Year - Alone
2015
Asian Influence Awards Oriental Ceremony
Best Influential All-Rounded Artist
Baidu Music King Awards
Best OST of the Year - Alone
Eastern Entertainment Influence Awards
Music Pioneer of the Year
Acting Awards
2024
37th Hundred Flowers Awards
Best Male Actor - No More Bets (Nominated)
2020
China TV Golden Eagle Award
Audience's Choice for Actor (Nominated)
The Actors of China Awards
Best Actor (Emerald) (Nominated)
2019
Huading Awards
Best Supporting Actor - The Island
2018
CCTV Flowers in the May Gala
Outstanding Youth Actor Award
2017
China Television Drama Quality Ceremony
Best All-Rounded Artist
Huading Awards
Best New Actor - To Be A Better Man (Nominated)
Macau International Movie Festival
Best Supporting Actor - The Founding of an Army (Nominated)
2016
China Britain Film Festival
Best Supporting Actor - Ex-Files 2: The Backup Strikes Back
Huading Awards
Best New Actor (Nominated)
The Actors of China Awards
Male Actor Award (Nominated)
Other Awards
2023
GQ Awards
Creative Pioneer Award
2020
GQ Men of the Year
All-Rounded Artist of the Year
Jin Ri Tou Tiao Awards Ceremony
All-Rounded Star of the Year
Weibo Awards Ceremony
Weibo God
Producer of the Year
2018
Baidu Baike Awards
Model Artist of the Year
China Economic Publishing House
National Music Industry Outstanding Award Project
2017
14th Esquire Man At His Best Awards
Man of the Year Award
CCTV Flowers in the May Gala
Esteemed Comradely Youth Award
Outstanding Youth Award
Weibo TV Online Video Awards
Most Weibo Fans Award
2016
Asia Book Awards
Terrific Author of the Year - Standing Firm at 24
China Writer's Rich List Awards
Celebrity Author Award (4th Prize) - Standing Firm at 24
ENAwards
Influential Artist List
LeEco Entertainment Sharing Night Ceremony
Most Influential Idol Award
2015
12th Cosmopolitan Beauty Awards
Best Beauty Idol of the Year
Honourary titles
HUNAN YOUTH LEAGUE PROMOTIONAL AMBASSADOR
In 2016, Lay was appointed as the promotional ambassador by the Communist Youth League of China (CYLC) of Hunan, Changsha, becoming the first celebrity to hold such a title. He has held the title of Youth Promotional Ambassador ever since, and was most recently re-appointed for the fourth time in December 2020.
AITA FOUNDATION AMBASSADOR FOR ANIMAL PROTECTION
In December 2021, Lay was announced as AITA's ambassador for animal protection. From what's known he has donated to this Foundation before when a fan gifted him a red packet with money in it without any information to return it.
PROMOTIONAL AMBASSADOR FOR HUNAN TAXATION SERVICES
In December 2021, Lay was officially announced by the official Weibo account of the Hunan Tax Bureau as their Promotional Ambassador.
NATIONAL TREASURE RECOMMENDATION OFFICER
In January 2022, the Hunan Provincial Museum announced Lay as the National Treasure Recommendation Officer.
HUNAN CULTURE AND TOURISM AMBASSADOR
In June 2024, Lay was officially announced as the Hunan Culture and Tourism Ambassador.
Endorsements
Global Brand
Spokesperson
Global Brand
Ambassador
Global Brand
Spokesperson
Friend of the Brand
Brand
Spokesperson
Global Brand
Spokesperson
Global Brand Ambassador
Global Brand Ambassador
Brand
Spokesperson
Brand
Spokesperson
Brand
Spokesperson
pets
Lay is the proud dad of 4 cats, named (in age order) Lulu (噜噜), Luobo (萝卜), Laosan (老三), and Rookie (四弟).
Lulu (噜噜)
Luobo (萝卜)
Laosan (老三)
Rookie (四弟)
Google Sites
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