LAY Returns with 东 (EAST)
Eight months after the release of album PRODUCER, LAY is back with his digital EP 东, referred to on the artist’s Instagram account as EAST. EAST is a four track masterclass showcasing the effortless blend of Eastern and Western influences that LAY has perfected over the years. With LAY describing EAST as the “start of something new and exciting,” we can’t help but to agree. It is new, it is exciting, and we’re ready for it.
Tracklist:
飛天 (Flying Apsaras)
三昧真火 (Samadhi Real Fire)
苦行僧 (Ascetic Monk)
牧童 (The Shepherd Boy)
Going with the theme of bringing Eastern and Western together, tracks “Samadhi Real Fire” and “Ascetic Monk” go one step further than “Flying Apsaras” and “The Shepherd Boy” by featuring a blend of Chinese and English lyrics. “Samadhi Real Fire” was pre-released on October 7, LAY’s birthday, and features Chinese rapper GALI. To put it simply, this track brings the “real fire.” “I’ma go hard / I’ma go loud / I’ma go psycho,” is the chorus opening, and if that doesn’t light a fire in your belly, we’re not sure what will. Tracks “Flying Apsaras” and “Ascetic Monk” do this as well, with heavy beats and a somewhat ominous presence that hooks you in quickly.
The final track “The Shepherd Boy” is like a breath of fresh air; that’s not to say the previous three tracks are bad by any means, but rather that “The Shepherd Boy” is just a completely different vibe than the rest of the EP. Opening with a light whistling followed by a rhythmic snapping, the track rides a wave of airy pop energy, though keeping a more subdued profile at the same time. It’s an interesting track to close with and it will be interesting to see where LAY goes from here.
While there’s no official music video yet for any of the tracks, LAY did share a visualizer for “Flying Apsaras” on his YouTube channel, with promising imagery such as LAY walking through the desert in one shot and approaching a dragon in another. And we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention the flawless execution of choreography that we get to see throughout. It’s no secret to fans that LAY is an accomplished dancer, and the lines he’s able to create with his body are truly breathtaking.