Become the biggest EXO fan ever – Learn the essentials about Lay
EXO carved out its place in global pop by balancing sleek choreography with intricate harmonies that travel across language lines. The Seoul-based act launched in 2011 under SM Entertainment, initially built as a twelve-member ensemble split between Korean-language performances by EXO-K and Mandarin-language sets by EXO-M. Legal shifts trimmed the roster to nine, yet the group kept momentum through sharp single releases and dedicated fanbases that now stretch far past Asia.
Lay remains one of the most compelling members in that lineup. Born Zhang Yixing in Changsha, Hunan, on October 7, 1991, he trained early as a pianist, guitarist, and self-taught songwriter while appearing on Chinese variety shows as a child performer. SM Entertainment spotted him during a 2008 Global Audition in China, and he joined the pre-debut EXO lineup in January 2012 before the group’s first Olympic Stadium showcase that March.
The full package
Offstage, Lay keeps a low-key schedule filled with piano practice, home cooking, and late-night composition sessions. He speaks fluent Mandarin and Korean, a bilingual skill set that helped him navigate early schedules across Seoul and Beijing. His early variety-show experience gave him quick comfort in front of cameras, an asset that later translated into solo hosting gigs and brand campaigns.
EXO life
Inside EXO, Lay co-wrote the 2014 track “Promise” alongside Chen and Chanyeol. He became the first member to launch a solo career when he dropped his debut Chinese album in 2016. After leaving SM Entertainment in 2022, he continued releasing music independently while returning for select group projects. The 2026 album Reverxe featured Lay on the single “Crown,” marking his first major EXO release since 2018 and signaling renewed collaboration on the group’s terms.
Recent Solo Releases and Tours
His solo catalog has grown steadily. Grand Line: Step arrived in 2024, followed by Grand Line: Rock the Heavenly Palace in 2025. The 2026 project Flawed Crown rolled out with listening events across Asia, including a June 27 session in Kuala Lumpur that drew thousands of international fans. Each release leans into contemporary production while preserving the melodic hooks that first drew listeners to his 2020 album Lit.
Business man
Lay opened Chromosome Entertainment Group in October 2020. The agency’s first artist, Le’v, debuted in August 2023, and Lay continues to serve as both CEO and hands-on producer for upcoming releases. The company’s trainee program has expanded beyond its initial 2020 announcement, giving the label a steady pipeline of new talent under his creative direction.
Chromosome Entertainment Growth
Chromosome now operates with a full roster development structure. Lay oversees trainee evaluations, music production, and long-term artist strategy while maintaining his own recording schedule. The dual role keeps him close to every stage of an artist’s journey, from early demos to debut stages.
Makeup man
Beauty partnerships have also evolved. Lay began working with MAC as a China spokesperson in 2018 and was named global ambassador in 2020. While recent public updates on that relationship remain limited, he stepped into a new role as TECNO Global Brand Ambassador in 2024, renewed for 2025, aligning his image with tech-forward campaigns across multiple markets.
Global Brand Partnerships
TECNO’s campaigns place Lay alongside athletes and innovators in markets outside traditional K-pop strongholds. Social posts have also teased collaborations with Bang & Olufsen, hinting at further audio and lifestyle partnerships that extend his reach beyond music and beauty.
International Expansion and Hollywood Ambitions
In September 2023, Lay signed with Range Media Partners to explore opportunities in Los Angeles. The move supports his stated goal of developing projects for global screens while continuing to release music on his own schedule. Early conversations have centered on film scores and select acting opportunities that could broaden his audience without pulling focus from his core discography.
Swooning over Lay
Lay has always emphasized direct connection with listeners. In a Rolling Stone interview he noted that fans should see themselves in the artist just as the artist sees themselves in the fans. That philosophy continues to guide his solo work, agency decisions, and brand choices, keeping the line between performer and audience deliberately thin.
