Lay Zhang brings Monkey King legend to life in new album

Chinese singer and actor Zhang Yixing, also known as Lay Zhang, presented his seventh album Flawed Crown at an overseas preview event in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on June 27.

The nearly two-hour showcase introduced audiences to his signature "M-POP" (Mix-Mandarin-Pop) style — a fusion of Mandarin pop with diverse musical influences that highlights Chinese cultural elements.

The album's Chinese title, Dou Zhan Sheng Fo (Victorious Fighting Buddha), draws inspiration from the legendary Monkey King, a household name thanks to the 16th-century novel Journey to the West. Through a blend of electronic music, traditional Chinese instruments and mythological storytelling, Zhang created what he calls an "Eastern cyber" soundscape.

Opening with the sound of dripping water — evoking the Shuilian Dong (Water Curtain Cave), the Monkey King's mythical residence — the performance featured songs including the title track Call My Name and Again, weaving traditional instruments into modern electronic arrangements.

Beyond music, Zhang introduced national-level intangible cultural heritage to overseas audiences by inviting performers of a traditional dance by the Lisu ethnic group from Yunnan province. The dance, called Achi Mu Gua — meaning "goat dance" in the Lisu language — mimics the movements of goats and features polyphonic singing.

Music critic Liang Xiaohui noted that the piece begins with the distinctly ethnic vocals and instrumentation of the Lisu people, then transitions into electronic dance music so seamlessly that there is no sense of "abrupt rupture". Instead, it creates a gradual, woven texture that allows the listener to accept this cross-cultural fusion almost unconsciously, Liang said.

Zhang has long aimed to promote Chinese culture through music. Since proposing the "M-POP" concept with his third solo album Namanana in 2018, he has integrated Chinese stories, instruments and aesthetics into contemporary pop for global audiences. His 2025 album Rock the Heavenly Palace portrayed the Monkey King as a fearless challenger. By contrast, Flawed Crown turns inward, exploring self-reflection, desire, regret and self-conquest.

Flawed Crown is scheduled for release on July 3.