Exactly a year after “Sheep,” EXO’s Lay has gifted fans his new English single “Give Me A Chance” ahead of his full English album Namanana. It’s another much appreciated released as fans await EXO’s comeback in November; Lay will be participating solely in the Chinese version of the title track.

While still utilizing the distinct synth used in “Sheep,” “Give Me A Chance” is much sleeker and more sophisticated than the former. The production is much more minimalist, clarifying Lay’s vocals and the lyrics, which can be drowned out sometimes by a noisy instrumental. It’s a stripped down urban pop track chill enough to appeal to fans across genres. Lay’s English pronunciation should also be acknowledged; it’s easy to understand him, reflecting his hard work at tackling a new language. He even does a little rap, which is difficult to do in any language.

The monochromatic aesthetic of the music video adds to the crispness of the release. Lay dances in several industrial sets, and the lines and angles make the video look really clean. But throughout the video, there are scattered images that contrast the rigidity of the background: his flowing shirt, spotted black shadows, and a circular burst of flame. Overall, his dance moves are the definitive highlight. It’s a choreography-based video reminiscent of mid to late-2000s K-Pop and even Western R&B, where artists like Taeyang and Chris Brown impressed with their dance moves. Lay incorporates different styles of dances, too — from hip-hop to contemporary and even ballet. There’s even a nod to Michael Jackson before the first chorus.

After the hecticness of “Sheep,” it’s nice to see Lay strip back down to what he’s good at, but still challenge himself at the same time. “Give Me A Chance” gives us a sneak peek of what we can expect for Namanana.