Chinese pop star Lay Zhang met Filipino fans again after 10 years in an intimate gathering to introduce his music and interact with them.
Lay Zhang held his free fan meeting and music listening party, organized by Warner Music Philippines, on Dec. 4 at the Teatrino at Promenade in Greenhills Shopping Center.
Lay Zhang at his fan meeting and music listening party in Manila on Dec. 4 (Jonathan Hicap)
It was in January 2013 when Lay, together with other members of boy band EXO, came to Manila to perform at a concert.
Lay debuted in EXO in 2012 and has since chartered a solo career.
Hours before the event in Manila, fans were already outside the venue, eagerly waiting to meet Lay Zhang, one of the Chinese artists who has become successful internationally.
Lay Zhang has 50.65 million followers on Weibo, China’s microblogging site, and 14.2 million followers on Instagram.
He opened the show with “Boom” and “Right Back” and greeted fans.
“Hello, Philippines. Since I first came here, it has been 10 years. Missed you guys,” Lay Zhang told Filipino fans.
He added, “Kamusta, Philippines? Ako si Lay (How are you, Philippines? I am Lay).”
As he was asked to say “Pogi ako (I am handsome),” Lay told the audience, “Maganda kayo (You are beautiful).”
Lay Zhang at his fan meeting and music listening party in Manila on Dec. 4 (Jonathan Hicap)
Lay said he chose to perform a slow version of “Boom” because its original version “was more like a jam and dance.”
“But this opportunity, we can (be) close to each other. I want you guys to feel this song, feel the emotion, feel the love,” he said.
In an interview with the Philippine media in October last year following the release of the album “West,” Manila Bulletin asked Lay about the changes in his music in the last 10 years.
“I also have more freedom to choose and (the) concept I want to try. That’s what I try to experiment as much as I can. So I’m still finding my sound. It’s a process and it’s fun to make all kinds of music. So my goal is just to get better each day and discover my sound. This album is a progress,” he said.
At the fan meeting, Lay was excited to see Pinoys.
“Right now, I’m here, I’m back. That’s why I chose ‘Right Back.’ Just like the lyrics said: I am always here if you want,” he said.
The Philippines was the first stop for the fan meeting and Lay said, “I missed the Philippines.”
Fans also chanted “Grand Line” to Lay, requesting him to bring his concert to the Philippines.
“Got it. We have to bring my whole system to come to the Philippines to make a wonderful show for you guys,” said Lay.
Last year, Lay held his “Grandline II: Infinite Lands World Tour” in China, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and San Francisco in the US.
During the question-and-answer segment, Lay was asked by a fan, “Is there a genre you haven’t done yet that you want to do in your upcoming releases?”
“I want to try some Afro beats,” he said.
On what keeps him motivated in doing the things that he loves, Lay said, “My fans because fans’s love and support give me power, energy to keep (the) passion, keep the motivation, and everything. Also I love my job.”
Lay also talked about who he should collaborate with in the Philippines. Sarah Geronimo and Lola Amour were mentioned by the emcee as possible artists that Lay can work with.
Filipinos fans prepared a video that was shown during the event in which they expressed their love and support for Lay Zhang.
As the event ended, Lay told fans, “Keep healthy, and stay with me until the end.”
Fans waiting to enter the venue to see Lay Zhang on Dec. 4 (Jonathan Hicap)