Lay Zhang exclaims that Chromosome’s 14-year-old trainees are already 6 feet tall: “They have GOOD nutrition supplies
As a frequenter who has performed 5 times on the Spring Gala stage, Lay Zhang expressed during the interview that he is under great pressure this year. This time, he has brought us an experimental music show on the Spring Gala for the Year of Ox. He also told us that he submitted this original piece of music to the director within a week from the time he received the invitation. Talking about his plan for 2021, Lay said that he wants to study more in business management. He also told us that there is a new album to look forward to.
In 2020, Lay gained himself a new title, that is he founded the Chromosome Entertainment Group, and recruited trainees from all over the world. As the boss, Lay raised strict requirements. He hopes that the trainees can take one step at a time, and really calm themselves down to learn. He said, “After everything is ready, then we can meet each other on the stage.”
Lastly, Lay imaginatively drew a mug of beer with ox horns (a homophonic expression for Happy New Year in Chinese) to greet friends from iFeng Entertainment: Happy New Year! Bottoms up for my true friends!
iFeng: The next guest to our “The FUN New Year’s Eve dinner” is Lay Zhang. Welcome!
Lay: Hi everyone, I’m Lay
Welcome to our live show, Lay. You are a fifth-time senior at Spring Gala, I guess?
Everyone is saying senior, predecessor. I really didn’t think of that.
You are doing a solo this year, right? So, from your perspective, is there more pressure on your shoulder this time?
The pressure doesn’t come from one aspect. I made this song myself as well, by the way. Therefore, I have to start thinking from the music, I would have to think about how I can present the picture they want by music. The melody that they want, and the lyrics that they want, and you have to display all of that on the stage. So, I did feel great pressure, and wasn’t able to think of anything else, like reading.
This is the professionalism of a producer. You’ve already produced your own music for the Gala. That’s awesome.
Actually, the directors inspired me with a great idea, that they wanted to make a “picture scroll”. They asked about my thoughts on the picture scroll. I proposed to make three chapters, each fulfills with different musical forms. So, I tried. Around 3 to 4 days after I was assigned the mission, I sent back a demo to the directors. They said that the lyrics need some adjusments, and that was when sir Mang Liang participated to help us with the lyric’s adjustment. When we made this song, Yan, Li and I, we used around a week.
In one week? That’s sharp! When we look back to 2020, you’ve already completed the collection of “The Four Auspicious Beasts”, right? And now, as 2021 starts, do you have any new goals set?
First of all, as the founder of “Chromosome”, I want to thank for the kids’ parents who came over. They gave me a lot of trusts. I already attended a lot of lessons with them. Therefore, I really hope that they can take one step at a time, figure out their true passion, and work hard. Meanwhile, I hope they don’t give up on their academic learnings, because learning is such an important thing, both cultural and skills. I hope they can possess every essential skill before they became mature. This is a fast-pace era. Many kids can master dancing at 12. Of course, we have a few here at “Chromosome” too.
However, they have merits as well as drawbacks. I want them to be steady and practice hard before they are ready for the stage. I also hope them can keep calm and learn. When the time comes, we will meet with everyone on the stage.
Foundation is important.
I already saw how talented they are from the first times I met them. If they continue to practice for another two years, they can easily beat me. It will be a piece of cake.
So, they are all very talented, and have some foundation.
So, nowadays a lot of kids actually like street dance a lot. So, their parents would cultivate their interest in dancing. So, when I saw those kids, and when I think back to times when I was still a trainee, I know that the kids nowadays are really different from how I was back then. So, I am always exclaiming that time really flies. It really does. Moreover, the 14-year-old kid is already more than 6'1"! And there are 14 of them who are 6'.
Gosh! They have good nutrition!
Yeah! I would have to shout out to our country for being so strong and being able to provide nutritious meals to us!
Being over 6 feet at just 14 is just incredible! So we can all look forward to them!
The kids that I chose would have a chance if they really settle themselves into practicing. But that does not mean all of them will have big achievements. My rules are different.
It seems like producer Zhang is very strict.
Of course.
You will have to set unbreakable rules as for practicing.
Of course. This is how quality control looks like.
So, do you have any goals for yourself in 2021?
I would like to learn more about business management. Probably getting a degree in it. There’s a lot for me to learn in 2021. Actually, I found that there are so many things you wouldn’t be able to understand as an outsider of the field. So it is really not that easy. If I want to do this to perfection, I will have to… or I should say that it lays in my responsibility to do those things.
So you are already thinking about getting a license or degree in this major?
As you said.
But just now, we were reviewing some old materials of yours. You also mentioned that you will not go for the cute style after 30 years old.
I have never been (acting cute purposely).
It’s probably not cute either, adorable might be a better word.
I think it’s just a relative concept. I would just be like what I want to be like.
There is no word to describe you accurately. Just continue to work harder in the future
I have a goal, and I am working towards it. Just like the story “Kua Fu chases after the sun”, I will always chase the sun.
And you can work harder, harder, and even harder, and just let the result be.
Yes, just let the result be
You also have a new album to be released in 2021.
Yes, I will have a very different album with experimental music that will tell Chinese traditional stories. This story is going to be familiar to you, and you will all know it. I hope the listeners can follow this song to create a picture in their minds.
So, when will the album come out?
Well, it should be in the near future.
Anyways, 2021 is already here! So, we should be able to hear your new album very soon! Let’s expect the release together.
Yep, and I will work hard.
In 2020, there is a hot trend which is ‘humblebragger’. So, let’s ask Lay to say happy new year to our audiences like a humblebragger.
How should I do it? Bro, you should show me first.
Like… Maybe I don’t have the chance to perform on Spring Gala stage, but I can rest at home! Basically, it’s being humble when you brag. I have something that you don’t have, and we are not asking for that thing.
When you said, things that you have, and I do not have… I thought of GAI, he said “I have a wife!”.
Talking about ox, we are going to test Lay for your drawing ability. We have paper and pens prepared for you. You are great at music production, but how is your drawing skill?
It’s not bad.
Cool, so Lay please draw something on this red paper. Whatever you want, and it will be a gift for our audience. Draw whatever you want.
I will draw a beer, or a beer with the horns of the ox.
A beer with horns of ox. That’s cool. Do you wanna sign your name to show credit?
There’s foam on the beer, and there is also foam in the middle. And some bubbles here as well!
See, details show quality.
Beers from a cup with ox horns! From LOL (homophonic expression of Happy New Year in Mandarin)
So this is the New Year wish from Lay, and we are going to send the wish to all of our audiences. Happy the Year of Ox, Happy New Year, and Happy New Year to Lay.
Happy New Year! To our friendship! Bottoms up!
To our friendship! Please animate this part. We will save this, and here, take a picture.
