CHARGED Magazine - Issue 06 by AX3 Multimedia

JUN 2012

FREE

MC JIN FROM YOUNG RAPPER TO YOUNG FATHER

IN YOUR ARMS: KINA GRANNIS LIVE IN VANCOUVER HOT HOT CHIC: SUMMER FASHION TRENDS

CONTRIBUTORS Publisher: AX3 Multimedia Editor-in-Chief: Justin Lee Managing Editor: Evelyn Wong Writers: Peter Tang, Bernie Yee, Benjamin Yong, Trini Nguyen-Don Art Director: Shun Lee Assistant Art Director: Venus Fung Designers: Tiffany Ip, Peter Zhao, Nicholas Sim Photographers: Norman Tam, Jonathan Lee, Ellick Lee Production Host: Angela Chang, Matthew Tse Sales & Distribution Manager: Irvin Ho Sales: Charmine Lau, Kenny Chow, Annie Chan, Kiki Pau Marketing Manager: Carolyn Shum Special Thanks: I AM MADE Entertainment, Horseshoe Press Inc. Realbig of stock.xchng for CHARGED Health Photo

Letters from the Directors: Canadian educator and scholar Marshall McLuhan describes how the form of a medium is embedded within the message itself, allowing the medium to influence how the message is perceived. His thesis is recognized widely, and his token phrase, “The Medium Is The Message” is something that I hold high regard to. I aspire to produce and lead projects that can make an impact in the media industry and I am proud to proclaim that CHARGED Magazine have done so within its formation in 2012. Unfortunately, a medium such as this magazine requires a synergetic relationship between its content creators, readers, and supporters to exist. The dedication and passion of each and every individual in AX3 that have contributed to this project is immeasurable. The joy and appreciation shown by readers give us a reason for working relentlessly around the clock to deliver our best possible work. Finally, the supporters that have believed in this project not only allowed us to grow as a company through working with numerous clients, and forming new connections, but your partnership with CHARGED proves that our company mandate of bridging the gap between the East and West is indeed important to culture and people. I would like to assure you that the future of AX3 is brighter than ever, as we embark onto our next series of projects and continue to consistently deliver excellent content locally to Vancouver, and internationally to all. — Alan Ng The month of June means that we’re now halfway into the 2012, but it also means something special for AX3 and the CHARGED Magazine team. Not only does this mark the beginning of summer and warm months ahead, this issue also marks the end of the CHARGED Magazine project. While it only seems like it was only yesterday that we were excited to hold the first issue in our hands, it’s time to say goodbye… for now. Thank you to the entire AX3 team for their contributions these past months, your hard work will never be forgotten. Thank you to the event hosts, artists and their management team for the opportunity to meet and work with a talented bunch of people. Thank you to our distributors and advertisers for helping us achieve this dream and tell people about it. And most importantly, thank you to all the readers (that’s you!) for all of your overwhelming support. All of your kind comments on the website, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and in person: we appreciate all of it and it keeps us CHARGED! Hope you enjoy this commemorative issue of CHARGED Magazine, we hope to come back soon! In the meantime, we will be focusing a lot on improving the quality of exclusive features on AX3battery.com, so we’re not going away anytime soon! Hope to see you there! — Justin Lee With June coming around, we are proud to bring you the last issue of CHARGED Magazine! The end of this 6-month project is undoubtedly sad for many of us within the AX3 team, as much effort and time was spent producing every single issue. But we are also extremely excited at the same time as we already have other projects and plans in mind to bring to our beloved audience. Thanks again for the enormous support throughout these months for the magazine and AX3. Just the act of reading what I have to say now means a lot already! I would like to thank every single member in AX3 for all the sacrifices they have made to ensure every single issue of CHARGED Magazine lives up to standard and delivered timely to all you readers. Without everyone’s help, this ambitious project of ours would have never been born. Please continue to read through this final issue of CHARGED, and if you have any comments or feedback, feel free to contact us. Don’t forget to check out our website, AX3battery.com to see what projects we have planned for you all. For the last time within this magazine, #stayCHARGED! — Shun Lee Opinions expressed in this magazine are not necessarily intended to reflect those of the publisher. AX3 Multimedia Inc. accepts no responsibility or liability for claims made for any product or service reported on or advertised in this issue. Every effort has been made to ensure that the information contained in this publication is accurate and complete on publication date. AX3 Multimedia Inc. reserves the right to limit liability for omissions and errors to a printed issue. Copyright © 2012 by AX3 Multimedia Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any form or by any means, whether electronic, mechanical or photographic without the permission of AX3 Multimedia Inc.

CHARGED MAGAZINE | JUNE MAY 2012 2012

TABLE OF CONTENTS CHARGED MAGAZINE

JUNE2012

CHARGED MAGAZINE

04 CHARGED CONCERT

In Your Arms: Kina Grannis in Vancouver

07 CHARGED EATS

Get Your Eat On, Vancouver!

10 CHARGED TRAVEL

How to Pack for a Trip to Asia Under 23KG

13 CHARGED HEALTH

Summer Sizzle Solutions

16 CHARGED FEATURE

MC Jin: From Young Rapper to Young Father

20 CHARGED FEATURE

Transcending Friendship to Serious Business: The Beginnings of AX3 Multimedia Inc.

22 CHARGED INTERVIEW

Stars in Harmony

24 CHARGED FASHION

Hot Hot Chic: Summer Fashion Trends

29 CHARGED ASKS

What do you do to Achieve a Nice Body for Summer?

31 DISTRIBUTION

CHARGED Distributiors

JUNE 2012

CHARGED MAGAZINE

CHARGED CONCERT IN YOUR ARMS: KINA GRANNIS

IN YOUR ARMS: KINA GRANNIS TEXT: PETER ZHAO

PHOTO: PETER ZHAO & JONATHAN LEE

n May 12th, singer-songwriter Kina Grannis came to Vancouver for one of the many stops on her “In Your Arms” world tour to perform hits from her album titled Stairwells. Held at the Rio Theatre, fans gathered hours to wait for the doors to open. As a treat, JellyBelly partnered with Kina Grannis to provide free jelly beans to everyone for the entire tour.

Fans filled up both levels of the venue quickly, but grew impatient as they waited for Kina. The night’s opening act was Imaginary Friend, impressing the audience with his 7 song set. After a short intermission, Kina Grannis finally took the stage with her guitar, causing the crowd to soar as soon as they saw her shadow. Keith Tutt II accompanied her on stage with the cello. Without an introduction, they jumped right into their first song “World In Front of Me”, which is also the first track on Stairwells. The audience was captured right away by her soulful voice. Then she sang a fan favorite “Strong Enough”. For the third song, Kina invited her younger sister Emi to join her on stage to sing “The One

CHARGED MAGAZINE | JUNE 2012

You Say Goodnight To”; the fans clapped in rhythm with their performance, just like in the music video. It was a very spontaneous moment that made the concert more intimate. She also told jokes to lighten up the mood. Kina: ”Emi, you are a pretty intense person.” Emi:”Am I?” Kina:”Keith, you know what else is intense?” Keith: “What?” Kina: “Camping... ‘cause it’s in tents.” It was a very nice touch to the show. For her last song, she chose something the audience could participate in—“Message From Your Heart”. She asked the audience to join in by singing “boom boom boom boom” to create the rhythm of the song. She also decided to go unplugged to give the song a whole new identity. Two songs were prepared for the encore. “Make It Go” is a song dedicated to her mom who was diagnosed with blood cancer. She also encouraged everyone to make an effort to make a difference by donating to an organization that she’s very involved in, The Leukemia &

Lymphoma Society. Last but not least, Jesse, Emi, and Keith again joined her on stage to cover the very popular “Fix You” by Coldplay. It definitely made a memorable night for Kina fans in Vancouver. We thank Kina for coming to Vancouver, and putting on a great show for her fans. We look forward to seeing her more in the future.

Follow Kina Grannis: kinagrannis.com facebook.com/kinagrannis twitter.com/kinagrannis youtube.com/kinagrannis

CHARGED CONCERT IN YOUR ARMS: KINA GRANNIS

CONCERT RUNDOWN Opening act: Imaginary Friend Music 1. World In Front of Me 2. Strong Enough 3. The One You Say Goodnight To ft. Emi 4. Cambridge 5. The Goldfish Song 6. In Your Arms 7. Gone 8. Safe and Sound (Taylor Swift) 9. Heart and Mind 10. Without Me 11. Valentine 12. Message From Your Heart (Unplugged) 13. Make It Go 14. Fix You (Coldplay)

JUNE 2012

CHARGED MAGAZINE

CHARGED EATS GET YOUR EAT ON, VANCOUVER

e know you love food, so we are collaborating with VANEATS.ca this issue to bring out Vancouver’s best eats! VANEATS.ca is a food video show and agency that works closely with local restaurants to offer you exclusive custom-made dining packages that are available for a limited time. We are glad to talk with the two local founders, Kevin and Billy, and join them on their food adventure this month at Kamei Royale, a local Japanese restaurant established since 1976! Who are you? Let's give us an introduction of yourself! And what's your favourite food? Kev: VANEATS.ca is where I get jiggy with food! Steak, steak, steak! Billy: Graduated from film school, still a film nerd! Cereal with chocolate milk! What is Vaneats?

GET YOUR EAT ON, VANCOUVER! TEXT: CAROLYN SHUM PHOTO: ELLICK LEE

Kev & Billy: The whole website started with the idea of how to take girls out on dates successfully. Have you ever been on a date where you’ve ordered a crappy meal, wasted money or felt awkward paying with a 50% deal? Have no fear, for VANEATS.ca is here! Let us take care of the ordering! We specialize in creating and featuring dining packages via video to bring you a popular variety of dishes that a restaurant has to offer. Just whip out your exclusive dining pass and “eat the best!”. Bon appétit and impress your date like a cool cat on coolwhip cream! How did you guys meet and why did you choose to work with each other? Billy: It’s quite funny because we actually met over some drinks in a club while partying. I saw Kevin’s crazy dance moves and we had this creative “bromance” moment. The next thing we know, we met up, shared our dating experiences and the food adventure grew into what we now know as VANEATS.ca. What is your favourite restaurant in Vancouver? Kev: That’s a tough one, but I got it bad for Santouka Ramen like a fat kid loves cake (chuckles) Billy: Mama Wong’s Kitchen! AX3: You mean your mom’s? Billy: You guys are welcome to come over any time!

JUNE 2012

CHARGED MAGAZINE

CHARGED EATS GET YOUR EAT ON, VANCOUVER

Any plans in the future planned out for Vaneats? Kev: 2 words! Food Network Vancouver! Billy: Wait, that's not 2 words! (laughs) What do you want to say to your fans? Kevin: Tell us what you want to eat and we’ll hunt and stalk those restaurants for you!

CHARGED MAGAZINE | JUNE 2012

Be sure to visit their website for the latest deals on a one-of-a-kind gastronomic experience in local Vancouver. It might just be your favourite restaurant, or the one you’ve been dying to try out! Also, check out AX3’s food adventure with Kevin and Billy at Kamei Royale, a Japanese restaurant located in Downtown Vancouver! Look for the video online at vaneats.ax3battery. com. and find out how you can win a 4-course Dining Pass for this fantastic restaurant!

FOLLOW VANEATS: vaneats.ca facebook.com/vaneats twitter.com/vaneatsca

CHARGED TRAVEL HOW TO PACK FOR A TRIP TO ASIA UNDER 23 KG

HOW TO PACK FOR A TRIP TO ASIA UNDER 23KG TEXT : PETER TANG PHOTOS : TIFFANY IP & EVELYN WONG

Summer is almost upon us, and what better way to enjoy the season with a holiday to Asia? But packing for a trip can sometimes be a nightmare to people, with the problem of forgetting things or over packing. Most airlines allow a maximum of 23kg (50lbs) of check-in luggage as well as your carry-on bag. However that doesn’t mean you have to pack enough to reach this limit, especially if you plan on doing a lot of shopping during your holiday. So here are a few tips to follow in order to reduce your travelling worries and pack a light bag that contains everything you’ll need.

Make a list

Choose the right electronics

The most obvious solution. Figure out exactly what you will need to bring and write it down. When planning the list, make sure you only bring the necessities. You won’t need to pack your entire life in a suit case, so cutting down on essential items that are usually available in hotels, such as toiletries and makeup.

Regarding electronics, narrowing down which gadgets you’ll need for the trip is essential in lightening your load. Simply ask yourself this question: will I feel “lost” if I don’t have this gadget with me on the trip. Try to narrow the electronics you plan to bring to small, compact devices that are lightweight but durable and offer a long battery life. And most importantly, make sure you are aware of what sort of electrical outlet adapter required at your destination. Plastic bags will be useful to carry around, as not only can they be used to carry your shopping but also in preventing your electronics from getting wet.

Do some research

WWW.

Some areas in Asia may not be as tourist-friendly as others, so it’s always a good idea to do a little research before venturing out to certain places in your destination. Keep in mind to not bring bags and purses that can be easily stolen, such as ladies’ handbags or sling bags. Packing smaller bags that can be carried close to your body is advised, such as fanny packs that can be worn underneath your shirt.

CHARGED MAGAZINE | JUNE 2012

Do not over or underpack What a lot of people tend to do is pack everything they think they are able to carry, instead of packing as little as they can get away with. This usually results in overstuffed baggage that limits mobility.

CHARGED TRAVEL HOW TO PACK FOR A TRIP TO ASIA UNDER 23 KG

Pick out the right clothes

Prepare for the summer heat

Clothing-wise, you may want to assemble a set of clothing that can mix and match with one another. However you don’t want to pack too much, as bringing extra clothing will most likely result in you wearing only your favorite outfit over and over anyway. Setting a colour scheme for the clothes you’re bringing may be useful in picking out which clothes to pack. But remember, the summer heat is going to make you want to wear light, cotton clothes that are good for casual wear and walking around. Asia offers some of the best shopping and bargains in the world, so finding new clothes shouldn’t be a problem.

And for dealing with the summer heat, hats and sunglasses would be essential in taking steps to prevent heatstroke. This time of year makes most Asian countries the most humid places in the world, so carrying around a small towel and a cool water bottle is also recommended. Stores that sell water cheaply are easily found in Asian countries but having your own water bottle wouldn’t hurt the environment. The humid climate also means you may want to bring mosquito repellant as stinging insects are common in Asian destinations. Some insect repellants double as sunscreen, which will save you some space in your luggage.

Bring a pair of flip flops Sandals and flip-flops would be advised for footwear, as well as a good pair of walking trainers. A maximum of two other shoes is recommended apart from the pair you worn on the plane, which should be the heaviest, chunkiest pair you’re bringing (unless it’s hiking boots or stilettos!).

The down side of a summer trip to Asia is that it will most likely entail a fair amount of heavy rain. This means waterproof footwear, a light rain jacket and a small umbrella would be advised. Most of these items are likely available at your destination but it never hurts to be prepared. So for those with summer plans to travel abroad to Asia, we hope these tips help you out in packing light for your journey. Have a good holiday! JUNE 2012

CHARGED MAGAZINE

CHARGED HEALTH SUMMER SIZZLE SOLUTIONS

SUMMER SIZZLE SOLUTIONS TEXT: BENJAMIN YONG

This summer, pale is the new cool. For traditional Asians who have always followed the whiter-is-better mantra, this is nothing new. But those—particularly the younger generation—who flock to the beaches in search of a summer tan should be careful, even if they don’t normally burn, says dermatologist Frances Jang who practices at the Vancouver cosmetic clinic Skinworks. “The issue is not really sunburn anymore. Sunburn is acute damage, but really it’s about accumulated ultraviolet exposure,” says Jang. “It ages your skin so it thickens, it makes it look dry [and] it makes it get those brown splotches which Asians hate.”

Aesthetics aside, excess UV can also lead to increased risk for skin cancer, adds Jang. As research into the effects of sun exposure continues to evolve, so do the recommendations on proper ways to stay protected. Beyond the obvious measures like seeking shady areas and wearing protective gear like clothing, hats and sunglasses, anyone heading outside needs to re-

get sweated off or worn off through activity. Equally as important as how often to put on sunscreen is how much to wear each time you apply, which is half a teaspoon — for the face alone, according to measurements performed in a lab. “An average bottle of sunscreen is about eight ounces. For many people, that lasts them the

“I think [Asians are] a group that has been a little negligent just because we don’t get sunburnt right. I see 40-somethings all the time, they don’t get it — they’re so deeply tanned and they’re looking old and not so pretty anymore and it’s kind of hard to reverse that.”

evaluate the way they wear sunscreen. The first thing people need to make sure is that they’re purchasing the proper SPF. “We recommend 30 broad-spectrum — so you want to cover UVA and UVB,” says Jang. “In the United States, they’ve made it so that you no longer can call something SPF 85. Anything over 50 is just called 50-plus because the gain you make from anything over 50 in terms of UVB screening is very small.” After choosing the right type, the next thing is to remember to reapply frequently. Rather than going with the previous recommendation of once every few hours, Jang says it should really be as much as once every half hour to utilize the full benefits of the sunscreen. Especially when it can

whole summer, including that trip to Hawaii or Kelowna or whatever where they’re putting it on all over their body (and it shouldn’t). So they’re clearly not using enough.” Jang, a Canadian-born Asian who has been practicing for over 20 years specializing in nonsurgical cosmetic dermatology, says she prefers creams over liquid sprays because of better skin coverage. She also recommends finding a sunscreen that has a built-in moisturizer to economize on time, especially in today’s busy world when self-care is often put on the back burner. This is not to be confused with skin lotions that advertise SPF protection of usually 15 or 20 because they often don’t cover the UVA spectrum.

QUICK TIPS:

APPLY SUNSCREEN EVERY HALF HOUR PURCHASE SUNCREEN WITH SPF 50+ PURCHASE SUNSCREEN WITH BROAD SPECTRUM MAKE SURE SUNSCREEN PROVIDES BOTH UVA AND UVB PROTECTION

JUNE 2012

CHARGED MAGAZINE

MC JIN: FROM YOUNG RAPPER TO YOUNG FATHER

TEXT: JUSTIN LEE | PHOTOS: NORMAN TAM By now you’ve probably heard the story of MC Jin and his rise to fame as a rapper. Many blogs and magazines have meticulously described Jin’s journey from joining the 106 and Park Freestyle Fridays Hall of Fame to being the first Chinese rapper to sign with a major record label. A few years later, Jin has reconnected with himself, his faith, and his music. But the story doesn’t end here. The last time we talked to Jin was over a year ago in May 2011, a time when he had just released his Sincerely Yours mixtape. During that time, Jin was also starting his acting career in Hong Kong, appearing in many episodes of TVB’s Lives of Omission. Fast forward one year and we can already see MC Jin has changed so much since we talked to him; he is now reaching the age of 30 with a child on the way. This was the big topic of our talk with Jin, who was more than excited to tell us all about the past 8 months. “It’s a very unique experience to partake in; it’s something every single person can relate to. At some point or another, even if you’re not a parent, your parents had to give birth to you. The hardest part rests on my wife, much props to her. Just watching her handle the last 8 months, the physical and mental demand, it’s so amazing. Props to all the mothers out there and women in general, it’s tough.” Already going through a series of changes last year, this child is changing MC Jin’s outlook in life once again. “The biggest thing I was sharing with you guys last time was my change of outlook, the direction I was going in life. To add on this new life only takes what I was sharing last time to a whole new level.” “It’s hard to describe. I could write a song, I could do a million things, but I still don’t think that would justify how amazing this experience is.” While nobody is ever fully prepared to have a child, MC Jin’s been doing his research, from reading books on parenting to watching videos on YouTube on how to change a diaper. “There’s a general guide, [but] you can’t always take the same approach to every child. The only thing we can do is absorb all the information out there, but I foresee learning on the fly. If he’s anything like his father, he’ll be okay.” CHARGED MAGAZINE | JUNE 2012

CHARGED FEATURE MC JIN: FROM YOUNG RAPPER TO YOUNG FATHER

JUNE 2012

CHARGED MAGAZINE

CHARGED FEATURE MC JIN: FROM YOUNG RAPPER TO YOUNG FATHER

When asked what gets him CHARGED in recent years, MC Jin mentioned his rap dream, his record deal, and his intimate relationship with God. “It’s changed over the years. What got me CHARGED in my initial years was this drive that I had for the dream to become a rapper, a rap star. A big part of that was the battling thing, and that defined who I was. The sad thing was that when things didn’t unfold how I wanted; it was tricky because that’s when I started to lose my identity. People defined me as the battling rapper and first Chinese rapper signed to a label, when it didn’t work out I didn’t have anything to define me. These were the darker years when I was in my mid 20’s. Nothing CHARGED me. But what’s CHARGED me in recent years is an intimate relationship with God. This CHARGES me in every way, in my work, my setbacks. God had this all planned for me, and it’s made me a better person.” That day, MC Jin headlined HKSA SingCon 2012, a singing contest held at the University of Washington in Seattle. Performing various songs such as Sincerely Yours and ABC; MC Jin never failed to keep the fans entertained during his set. He even challenged the MCs of the night to participate in a freestyle battle, as well as debuted his new song “Brand New Me”.

FOLLOW MC JIN: mcjin.com facebook.com/mcjinhk twitter.com/iammcjin

CHARGED MAGAZINE | JUNE 2012

TRANSCENDING FRIENDSHIP TO SERIOUS BUSINESS:

THE BEGINNINGS OF

AX3 MULTIMEDIA INC. In July 2008, Alan Ng registered AX3battery. com and started the AX3 BATTERY blog to bring together his friends Bryan Leung, Andrew Chan, and Andy Ho to document their lives online. The fun, non-commercial blog grew to a peak of 12 active bloggers. To make things more interesting, AX3 BATTERY went on to create a series of music video parodies based off references from Asian pop culture. Unfortunately, the AX3 BATTERY blog became dormant afterwards, as the rise in popularity of social media platforms took over the need of a blog to share their life with others. Two years later, Simon Fraser University undergraduates Justin Lee and Alison Chan joined Alan Ng in revamping the whole direction of the website. Instead of devising separate blogs for each blogger, AX3battery.com became a onestop online webzine for all Asian entertainment and pop culture news, and its popularity gained momentum exponentially in its first few months of transformation. The popularity of AX3’s brand image in Vancouver grew rapidly as our site traffic continued to excel which lead us to collaboration opportunities with local businesses. With the passion and goal of advancing ahead in the media industry, AX3 Multimedia was registered as a business in July 2010. Continuing with the raising success of the company’s presence in the community, AX3 was able to partner up with promotional companies and concert hosting organizations

CHARGED MAGAZINE | JUNE 2012

for exclusive interviews and media coverage. Initially, the editorial team was required to take up secondary tasks and responsibilities such as video documentation and photography. Before long, the team expanded to more than 15 members to take up more challenges in the media industry, which required the company to become more of a multimedia collective; separate departments were created including editorial, production, design, sales and information technology. With the commercial aspect of AX3 becoming more and more essential to the company’s growth, the company was incorporated in December 2011 with Alan Ng, Justin Lee, and Shun Lee as the Directors of the company with the mission to bridge the gap between Eastern and Western Asian lifestyle and culture.

Furthermore, with our experiences in the past of conducting exclusive media coverage, we have a new mandate to work more closely with concert hosts to bring the best entertainment and events to our city. With our local and global network expanding, the webzine’s focus will enhance and improve, as plans are under way to conduct more in-depth interviews and overseas features to our readers online. As well, AX3 will continue to work with artist managements to give you the latest up-to-date and exclusive information to our readers.

#stayCHARGED with AX3 In January 2012, the company debuted a substantial print project – CHARGED Magazine, a publication that has been in the planning stages for more than half a year. With the launch of an alternative physical Asian lifestyle magazine in Vancouver, AX3 Multimedia gained further recognition for their efforts in preserving Asian culture across Canada and was uninterruptedly invited to concerts and local events. Furthermore, through sponsorship and advertisement of the magazine, we were commissioned to work on many creative multimedia projects. Today, the team consists of over 30 individuals whom all contribute to the company with their unique skillsets.

ax3battery.com ax3multimedia.com facebook.com/ax3battery twitter.com/ax3battery youtube.com/ax3battery weibo.com/ax3battery vimeo.com/ax3battery

CHARGED FEATURE THE BEGINNINGS OF AX3 MULTIMEDIA

AX3 Multimedia:

Past Projects and Collaborations 2010 OCT 20: Twinkle2 “Back to School” Menu and Campaign NOV 05: WrongWroks, SUPERBORED Feature NOV 10: Raymond Lam “Come 2 Vancouver” Mini Concert DEC 15:

Eason Chan “DUO” Vancouver Concert

2011 FEB 14:

CarlosDouh Interview X Collaboration

FEB 27:

Cube Entertainment Global Auditions & G.NA Showcase

MAR 26: UBC YOURS Singing Contest featuring Stephy Tang APR 02:

Japan Relief Fundraiser

MAY 06: JJ Lin Vancouver Concert MAY 06: Inspire 2011 featuring MC Jin MAY 27: Fairchild Radio SQ16 Featuring Louis Cheung MAY 28: J.Reyez Live in Vancouver, Hosted by Traphik MAY 29: Sugar Club Playroom Live in Vancouver JULY 09: Fairchild New Talent Singing Awards featuring Jonathan Wong JULY 16: Driven to Perform (DTP) Autoshow 2011:

Mi Hee Hwang, Victor Kim, Chester See, Erika David, Sophie Sugar

JULY 31: ISA Seattle 2011:

Wong Fu Productions, Far East Movement, Cathy Nguyen, Kevjumba,

Ryan Higa, Victor Kim, I.AM.ME Crew, David Choi, New Heights

AUG 26: Sunshine Nation 2011 featuring Yao Yao SEPT 9-11: Luxury Supercar Weekend 2011 SEPT 23: Clara C “Shakin’ Off Silence” Tour OCT 09:

BC Children Hospital Foundation, Young Superhero

Orientation OCT 14:

Fall in Love: The Jayesslee Sisters Live in Vancouver

OCT 15:

Kollaboration Seattle 2

OCT 31:

AX3 Multimedia and Catch Adventures Present:

MC Jin - Shoot For The Moon (Live In Vancouver) Official Music Video

NOV 04: Vancouver Asian Film Festival featuring Edison Chan NOV 19: Simon Fraser University Student Entrepreneur of the Year 2011 DEC 03:

Sammi “Love Mi More” Live in Vancouver

DEC 16:

G.E.M. “Get Everybody Moving 2011” Live in Vancouver

2012 JAN 03:

CHARGED Magazine Launch

JAN 11:

Chinese Restaurant Awards 2012

JAN 13:

Jacky Cheung “1/2 Century Tour” Live in Vancouver

FEB 04:

Inspire 2012 featuring Jason Chen

FEB 09:

David Choi Forever & Ever Concert in Vancouver

FEB 11:

UBC CSA Singing Contest featuring Kary Ng

MAR 10: Jin Akanishi Japonicana Tour Vancouver MAR 17: UBC YOURS Singing Contest featuring Mag Lam & Hubert Wu MAR 23: Izzue S/S 2012 Fashion Show MAR 23: YTF Global 2012 Tour – Vancouver MAY 12: HKSA SingCon 2012 featuring MC Jin MAY 12: In Your Arms: Kina Grannis Concert in Vancouver MAY 14: VANEATS.ca & Kamei Royale Collaboration MAY 15: Annie G. Chan Makeup Demonstration MAY 15: Fairchild Radio SQ17 featuring C-All Star

JUNE 2012

CHARGED MAGAZINE

CHARGED INTERVIEW STARS IN HARMONY

STARS IN HARMONY TEXT/TRANSLATION: VENUS FUNG PHOTOS: JONATHAN LEE

C Allstar is a group of four passionate young men from Hong Kong who are famous for their a cappella street performances and their hit song “天梯” (Staircase). The themes of their songs are always close to the current society and their ability to radiate positive energy through music is what their fans love them for. This was their first trip out of Hong Kong to both Vancouver and Toronto as a group. AX3 had the privilege to sit down with these four music lovers — King, Chiu Fung , On Jai, and Jase — to learn more about them.

Official Site: callstar.hk Youtube: youtube.com/KingdomCmusic

CHARGED INTERVIEW STARS IN HARMONY

When the four of you are together, people know you as C AllStar, but each of you have your own style and personality. Can you each tell us your strongest point? King: My strong point… On Jai: You should talk about Chiu Fung. King: He’s good at finishing things he’s supposed to do. On Jai: …what else? King: Chiu Fung is skilled at singing love songs. He always makes me feel touched. When it comes to love songs, he can move the audience with his singing. Chiu Fung: If you’re talking about strong points, I think On Jai has a clear and perfect voice. He has a special quality in his voice that can heal people’s wounds, that’s his speciality. On Jai: Out of the four of us, Jase listens to the most foreign songs, as well as soulful songs. So his style is more like the way of singing in English. His personality is more introverted, he doesn’t talk much or even not at all. But when he does talks, he is right on point. Chiu Fung: Is that a good or bad trait? On Jai: A good trait. Jase: King is very impressive. His range is very high and when he sings, it’s very powerful Since you guys are performers for SQ17, what are some tips you would give to young music lovers such as yourself? King: It’s very important for anyone that loves music to keep that fire burning inside you. I think that no matter what, you must keep this fire wherever you go and bring out your passion. Jase: I think it’s important to find what you’re good at and use this as a starting point to go further. Chiu Fung: That’s right, because music offers a lot of different areas, like singing, arranging, composing music and writing lyrics. On Jai: I hope that people who love music will listen to other people’s music. Because I think music is like studying: the more you study, the more natural you will be able to write or compose music. So I hope that everyone can listen to different genres of music. Chiu Fung: I think in many cases, society links people who play or love music with an inability to make money or fulfil what they are supposed to do. They might feel that that the goal is very far. For us, music is part of our lives, and even when we finished our university studies we still felt that it was important to persist in music. I hope that people who view music as their dream will continue to persist and not give up.

On Jai: You have to believe in yourself. King: Music is part of life, it’s as simple as that. Chiu Fung: You have to persist it. I know you guys compose music too, which one would you prefer — composing or singing? On Jai: If you’re talking about composing music, we are still quite new to it. If you’re asking which one we prefer, we love both. Composing and singing are two different worlds, but they give you the same amount of fulfilment. When composing, you can express your innermost feelings, whether through the melody or the lyrics. I remember when we first composed for our last CD, for the song 2013, that sense of fulfillment was very great. When the producer is willing to use your song and when the radio plays it, the sense of fulfillment you get is the same as having your own child. Chiu Fung: I think the difference between composing and singing is that singing is expressing other people’s feelings, and it depends on whether your skill is mature enough to communicate that same feeling. For composing, like On Jai said, it’s writing about your own feelings. This feeling is first-person and this opportunity is very precious. Jase: It’s like writing a diary. For example, take a song that you wrote 5 years ago and one that you wrote now. If you look at a song that you wrote 5 years ago… On Jai: You think “so I was like that…”. Jase: Yeah, it’s a recording of your life. On Jai: For singing, it’s about interaction, which is different from the world of composing. Composing can get lonely because you have to do it by yourself. But when you’re singing, like us when we’re singing a cappella, the happiest thing during a live performance is that there is so much

interaction. It could be the interaction between the four of us, or the interaction with the live audience. So the happiness between the singing and composing are different. Vancouver is a very multicultural place and people here have many choices for music. What do you think is the selling point of Hong Kong music? Chiu Fung: We are now going to do a commercial for Hong Kong music… do we have any ideas? On Jai: I thought you had some. Jase: Yeah, since you said it like that. On Jai: I got it! I think that there are many talented people in Hong Kong’s music industry who write different songs, but I especially want to talk about Cantonese lyrics. I think that Cantonese lyrics are the hardest to write, yet there are still many skilled Cantonese composers. I hope that people can appreciate that. Chiu Fung: When performing Cantonese songs, it’s very hard. It’s very unique because Cantonese uses 9 tones. The language is very special and has its own charm. Because we’re in this industry and singing Cantonese songs, I hope that people can notice our efforts. On May 25, C Allstar headlined the Songwriters’ Quest 17 (SQ17) at Michael J. Fox Theatre, and their performance was very well received. Alongside singing classics such as 天梯 and their brand new song 少數, they also took requests from the audience at the end of the night. The audience challenged them with classics by Eason Chan and 蔡楓華, which they did an incredible job improvising. They made the audience wish they could attend their concert this coming November back in Hong Kong.

APRIL 2012

CHARGED MAGAZINE

CHARGED FASHION SUMMER FASHION TRENDS

MINKPINK LOLLIE FLORAL TIE BACK DRESS $95 CAD

HOT HOT CHIC:

SUMMER FASHION TRENDS

TEXT: TRINI NGUYEN-DON PHOTO: VENUS FUNG Bubble Bean Boutique, launched in August 2011, is an online boutique owned by Maggie Ma of Vancouver,

Don’t know what to wear to your next

BC. It aims to bring Canadians internationally branded

summer event? Well look no further,

clothing without the expensive shipping fees as Ma

because we’ve got the perfect summer

does her best to maintain the original local pricings. The

style guide for you! CHARGED had the

boutique carries brands like One Teaspoon, J Brand Jeans, MINKPINK, Finders Keepers and many more. For more details:

pleasure of collaborating with Vancouverbased Bubble Bean Boutique to help you

facebook.com/bubblebeanboutique

decide what to add to your summer 2012

twitter.com/shopbubblebean

wardrobe to ensure you look good at all

BubbleBeanBoutique.com

those upcoming outings.

CHARGED MAGAZINE | JUNE 2012

OUTDOOR PICNIC

Floral is back on the scene and the Australian label, MinkPink, has decided to splash it all over this cute little dress. The Lollie Floral Tie Back dress, with its playful skirt and flirty back, is something you will definitely want to have for those lovely picnic days at the park. You can’t go wrong with a floral dress/denim jacket combination just in case it gets chilly at night. Pair those and you’re ready to check out delicious eats at the summer night market!

DOCK

Finders Keepers keeps things fresh with this piece—the Heartstring Playsuit. It comes in a colour called Honeycomb Ink Blue, which will definitely keep the buzz directed towards you as you’ll be looking fine! The funky print gives it an edgy feel and the shade of blue used is in perfect coordination with the colour of the ocean, the body of water you’ll sigh deeply at before returning to your delicious fish and chip lunch.

FINDERS KEEPERS HEARTSTRING PLAYSUIT $129 CAD

BEACH

This piece is absolutely adorable. It’s the Canyon crochet poncho from One Teaspoon that can be worn as either a top or a dress. The detail is amazing as the hem is hand crocheted and tasseled. It’s made of cotton yarn which makes it the perfect layering piece for those evening walks on the beach or simply hanging out on the docks.

ONE TEASPOON CANYON CROCHET PONCHO $180 CAD

FINDERS KEEPERS MAGNETIC ELECTRIC DRESS $150 CAD

GIRLS DAY OUT

It’s a shopping and margaritas type of day with your girls and what could be more perfect than this Magnetic Electric dress from Finders Keepers, another Australian label. This dress will ensure you look fabulous at all times with its two-tone navy blue and nectarine contrast. Pair it with your favourite booties or a nice pair of sandals for a day out in town. Animal print is roaring back into the scene and MINKPINK has made this piece its prey. The Eye of the Tiger Overlay Top is fierce, and it’s definitely daring with its extreme high low hem and open back. It is slightly sheer so for a more tamed look; you may layer it with a tank top, but that still won’t help you avoid the curious eyes of bystanders.

MINKPINK EYE OF THE TIGER OVERLAY TOP $89 CAD

CASUAL BEER

LnA has mastered the t-shirt in terms of fit, comfort and versatility. So whether you’re kicking back beers with some buddies or heading out to the club, you’ll never lose your cool. But if you want to know the real secret to being in the centre of attention, we suggest throwing on a leather jacket with that tee. The ladies love it.

LNA S/S CREW NECK TEE $54 CAD

JANG CHEUN G LEE CHU LAW CORPORAT ION

鄭張李朱律師事務所

TE XT: BERNIE

ATION: NI YEE ILLUS TR

CHOL AS SIM

June is a month that many Vancouverites look forward to. It's a month that for many of us symbolizes freedom, as well as the beginning of summer. With incoming clear skies and moderate temperatures creeping, it's truly a blessing to live in such a wonderful and scenic city. But the closer it gets to August, the more the outdoors will resemble a living oven. As people spend more time outside at the city's various beaches and parks, we can bet that everyone will be wearing less! And more often than not, there will be that one person with the totally ripped and sculpted body that will make everyone around him/her glow with envy. Don't worry though. Hopefully the tips below will help all of you that are trying to be the same! For this month's edition of CHARGEDasks, the question was, "What do you do to achieve a "nice" body for summer?"

r Lower youes k ta Carb in

eat less proces food & moresed homemade dish es

30 minute Cardio

High-intensity in rval Training (HIIte T ) workouts

ym hit theugm p p and n o ir some

Swim For & definiti Cut on

Drink Water, Eat less Salty Food

JUNE 2012

CHARGED MAGAZINE

CHARGED MAGAZINE DISTIRBUTION

JUNE2012 DISTRIBUTION LIST UBC STUDENT CLUBS 2329 West Mall, Vancouver, B.C.

SFU STUDENT CLUBS 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, B.C.

BURNABY

KR Media 2602-4500 Kingsway

DELTA

Assi Korean and Japanese Supermarket 5593 Kingsway

McGill Burnaby Public Library 4595 Albert Street

Ming Shing Restaurant 7158 120th Street

Bamboo Café 5103 Joyce Street

Metro Max 5912 Kingsway

Boransi Cafe 4035 North Road

MoonFlower Café 2610 – 4500 Kingsway

BubbleWorld 1-4300 Kingsway

Orange Corner 140-6200 McKay Avenue

Chonqing 4519 Kingsway

Pearl Drops 22 Willingdon Avenue

Crystal Mall Dental 1001-4500 Kingsway

Pittsburg 1687-4500 Kingsways

Curry King 5-4250 Kingsway

S&W Pepper House 1821-4500 Kingsway

Ice Baby BBT 1021-4500 Kingsway

Sunshine Café 1003 – 4500 Kingsway

Happy Molars 1-4361 Kindsway

Tea Plus 2122-4500 Kingsway

Jang Mo Jib 5075 Kingsway

The One Restaurant 5908 Kingsway

Japanese Waffle House 2210-4500 Kingsway

COQUITLAM

Joyce Hair Design 5156 Joyce Street

Bon Vivant Fashion Cafe Unit 1001, 1163 Pinetree Way

Kay Market 5169 Joyce Stree

Coquitlam College 516 Brookmere Avenue

CHARGED MAGAZINE | JUNE 2012

RICHMOND Aberdeen Health Centre Unit 2180 – 4151 Hazelbridge Way Artistic Space Studio 140-4140 No. 3 Road Backstage Hair Studio 8010 Saba Road Blenz Coffee Suite 130-9040 Blundell Road Bone Sushi 1040 – 4540 No.3 Road Candyland Unit 3710 – 4151 Hazelbridge Way Cube Inc. Unit 3370 – 4151 Hazelbridge Way Gacha Gacha Hobbies & Toys Unit 3750 – 4151 Hazelbridge Way H-mart Unit 1780 – 4151 Hazelbridge Way K Fever 1018-8300 Capstan Way Mentor Hair Salon Suite 105-6211 No. 3 Road

CHARGED MAGAZINE DISTIRBUTION

MINI Richmond 410-10700 Cambie Road

SURREY

H-Mart 590 Robson Street

Monzter 190-4151 Hazelbridge Way

Bubble88 10209 King George Hwy

Hon’s Wun-Tun House 1339 Robson Street

MQ Cosmetics Unit 3400 – 4151 Hazelbridge Way

VANCOUVER

Jang Mo Jib 1719 Robson Street

Bonchaz 426 W Hasting Street

Ma Dang Coul 847 Denman Street

Bubble World Tea House 1325 Robson Street

Milano Coffee & Gelato 849 Denman Street

Capstone 1429 Robson Street

Starbucks 433 Seymour Street

Chicco 1504 Robson Street

Sushi Mart 1668 Robson Street

Dajia Sushi 836 Denman Street

Take Five Café 701 West Georgia Street (Pacific Centre)

Donburiya 1329 Robson Street

Waves Coffee House 492 W Hastings Street

East Fusion 1021-88 West Pender Street

WE Coffee 1696 Robson Street

Footo Delights 820 Homer Street

Zabu Chicken 1635 Robson Street

Osaka Optical Unit 2450 – 4151 Hazelbridge Way Parker Place 4380 No 3 Road Saigon City Vietnamese Restaurant Suite 125-9040 Blundell Road The One Cafe 聚客亭 6091 No. 3 Road Waves #180-5951 No. 3 Road Whatever Café 1108 8328 Capstan Way Yavis Club Cheesecake Cafe 1231-8300 Capstan Way 尚品 1028-8300 Capstan Way

JUNE MAY 2012

CHARGED MAGAZINE