EXO’s Lay to release debut solo album in U.S. next month

September 21, 2018

SEOUL, Sept. 21 (Yonhap) — Lay, a Chinese member of boy band EXO, will release a solo album for the first time in the United States, EXO’s agency, SM Entertainment, said Friday.

The album, titled “Namanana,” will be available Oct. 19 and contains 22 tracks — 11 Chinese songs and their English versions.

The singer, whose Chinese name is Zhang Yixing, co-wrote and co-edited all the songs, the agency said, adding that the album will help promote “Mandopop,” or Mandarin Popular Music, overseas.

Lay made his debut in 2012 in Korea as an EXO member and rose to stardom in China when his first album, “Lose Control,” released in 2016, received local music awards.

The next year, he dropped his second album, “Lay 02 Sheep,” which was also recognized as Best Album for that year in music awards hosted by Tencent Media.

A promotional image of Lay's new album, "Namanana," is shown in this image provided by SM Entertainment. (Yonhap)

A promotional image of Lay’s new album, “Namanana,” is shown in this image provided by SM Entertainment. (Yonhap)