Get the 1st Issue

It’s official- The first print issue of ‘Informasian’ is now available for all you students to buy! Be on the lookout for the explosive front cover bearing the above image! The magazine costing only £1 is a bargain considering that it is jam-packed full of everything you need and want to know!

You can go pick up your very own copy of the magazine from Aston University’s Community Centre, Aston Wines off-licence (next to Aston University) and the following accommodation offices: IQ5, Queen’s Hospital Close, Oscott Gardens, Hamstead Halls and The Coppice.  We are negotiating even more sites from which you can collect ‘Informasian’ and shall let you know of any additional pick-up points!  We hope you enjoy our 1st issue and we will keep you posted with hints of what you can expect from our follow-up issue!!

Amir’s boxing victory

We have already know of Amir’s triumph against Paulie Malignaggi but hear from the man himself how he broke the tough boxer down and astounded the New York crowd.  Malignaggi is also interviewed and speaks of why he feels he was beaten.  Interesting viewing!

The Brummy festival returns !!

The Brummy festival returns !!

The beloved Astonbury is back! And with the respected line up of last year, this year promises an even greater number of home-grown artists’ performances, making this year’s event bigger and better then ever.

Exams are over and assignments are in so now is your perfect chance to enjoy one of the best social events in the university calendar - an open air music festival right on your doorsteps at the Aston lake and surrounding area.

Astonbury kicks of on the usual date of the 13th June (Saturday) and is a 13 hour event which starts at 12pm and will go right through until 1am!

This day and night event will feature a whole heap of DJs and bands with some local talent showcasing their work. Artists confirmed so far include:

DJ Rugrat (hosting the stage all day)
The Cut Up Boys (DJ set)
Mr. Hudson
Roll Deep
The Hoosiers
Gracious K
Portlan
Bhangra Society
Essence
SPD
And many more!

During the day there will also be a number of performances from local bands, many of them from Aston, including the Aston Music Society which is great to give local artists coverage to an audience in there thousands and giving you more live acts.

For all you electro fans there will be also be a, as never before, alternative music room where there will be a mixture of fusion underground electro with some Pop/R&B throughout the whole day. Based in the Blue Room, hosted by the Fusion, will be the Guild’s Electronic Music and DJ society.

Alongside the musical fun there will be a heap of other entertainments such as fair rides, game stalls and a huge firework display giving you more variety and ultimately more fun!

There will also be some tasty food on offer, with the traditional summer pass time BBQ, a Chicken Joes and an Ice Cream Stand, what more can you need?

Aston bury is brought to you by the student team at the guild with the aim of demonstrating the high level of team work students can reach, in organising such a large event. The event is sponsored by PG careers and Aldi.

Tickets go on sale on the 17^th May and are available to buy from Aston’s Cafe Bar or from the Guild. Prices are £20 for students and this year are selling staff tickets at a special concessionary rate of £10 – reduced from £18. As past events have showed that although it’s a day and night event, the staff aren’t as hardcore as you students and tend to just enjoy the day events, leaving you students to party through the night!

 Two tickets can be bought with one student ID
One student can only bring a maximum of two student IDs. (Which means you could buy 4)
Remaining tickets will go on sale thereafter online and at university commercial outlets.

MUST HAVE STUDENT AND AGE ID AT ENTRY ON THE DAY!!!

Now for all you super party animals, there will be an Astonbury after-party in the Guild hosted by Propaganda!

After-party tickets will go on sale one week before the event.

  So grab your tickets and let’s hope the sun is shining to bring an awesome finish to this year!

By Zara Bokhari

Bhangra at 1extra!

Rising star, Jaz Dhami was interviewed and performed at BBC 1 Extra.  He performed alongside Juggy D and H-Dhami accompanied by a live band.  The show is the first time that these three U.K. Bhangra artists have performed together! Keep the support up for these acts-and you never know they may just collaborate again!  Watch the interview here to get the scoop!

DJ of the Month

FIRESTARR (NOTTINGHAM, UK)

Combining classic and current RnB, Gatecrashers fortnightly soundproof night will be welcoming DJ Firestarr soon …

DJ Firestarr has been working hard to make an international career that breaks the current mould of an Asian DJ.  After starting his career at the tender age of 17 he began making a name for him sharply landing a DJ slot on the prominent BBC 1Extra show, despite having no previous history working in radio, but plenty of enthusiasm.

Firestarr has also been quick to capitalise on the online boom, by promoting his DJ talents on popular sites like MySpace and Twitter, which have gathered him a huge local following and secured him a top draw agent. Born and raised in Peterborough, building a local name is one of firestarr’s unique selling points and goals. Not many before him have achieved high success in the music industry and this creates a niche opportunity.

His individual flow and smooth take on RnB music is on full show at Gatecrasher’s Soundproof event which is rumoured to be the clubs biggest night, attracting over 10, 000 clubbers.  Be sure to catch a glimpse of this young star while you can. DJ Firestarr’s next set is on 18^th May.

1. 1.       What first attracted you to become a DJ?

I was always into music and felt I wanted to enter the music industry and club scene as a career, especially as nothing else appealed to me. I took to being a DJ from an early age and it went from there…

1. 2.      Who would you say is your favourite or most inspirational music artist?

I have many artists I love and respect but growing up I listened to such artists as Snoop Doog, Nas and Jay-Z. These artists are still relevant in the scene today and there music continues on, which shows there success as role models.

1. 3.       Working so far as a DJ, what’s been the best piece of advice you’ve been given?

Just to keep your style individual and always try to stand out from the crowd, as the industry is very demanding and competitive – its important to offer something else to people. Also understanding music is crucial whilst being confident in knowing your crowd and what people want.

1. 4.       What age did you start your DJ career?

Back in the year 2001, I was aged 17 roughly and that’s when it all started, as in I actively began DJing and booking gigs.

1. 5.       Who would you say is your DJ icon and why?

I have many people I look up to and respect in the specific DJ business, names such as Semtex, Tim Westwood, Seani B, Jazzy Jeff. These names have started as DJ’s and remained that despite their huge success which is something I hope to do.

1. 6.       You’ve been working as a DJ for a number of years now, what has been your best moment?

I love doing the big parties and playing abroad, one of my biggest highlights was in fact being asked to DJ on the official BBC 1Xtra new years day ball, in 2008. I was the only non-radio DJ on the bill so that was a great honour and achievement.

1. 7.       Illegal music download is a concern raising rapidly, what is you’re opinion?

A lot of music is now available for free and until restrictions are in place this will always continue to be the case. I receive music from a lot of different people and if the artists are happy for it to be played I’m happy to support it.

1. 8.       What couldn’t you live without?

The music scene and club nights!!!

1. 9.       Does originating from an Eastern culture have any influence on your career?

Well I work as DJ mainly in the “urban” music scene and therefore being Asian has no baring on my club date/venues or anything else. Although I do play a number of events which have an Asian related crowd, but that’s due more to their taste in music as oppose to any social reasons. So I’d have to say no to my ethnicity having an impact on my career.

1. 10.    Seeing the success of other British musical artists such as Jay Sean, what’s your hope for the year?

To gain more international bookings and have a strong summer across Europe and in the UK, as watching them and the success of other British Artists makes me think there is a demand abroad which hopefully I can meet too.

By Zara Bokhari

We love hair!

 Rich, glossy hair is something all girls long for, but with the constant wear and tear our barnets suffer, such as the likes of  backcombing and hair spraying, its no surprise we have hair that looks nothing like the girls in the hair adverts.

But fear not, here at Informasian we bring you a simple solution to taming and restoring that healthy shine to your hair and the answer is hair OIL!

Now some of you may be wondering, how hair oil can nourish your hair, well research has shown that oil made specific for the hair can be the most effective way to maintain hair because of the  pure herbs used which are perfect to nourish the hair.

With so many products out there, achieving such luscious locks can be overwhelming. So to save you time, juggling lectures, and shopping for that cute dress for the night’s rave, we’ve shopped around to find three of the best hair oils. All of which range in price for some who can afford to treat themselves and others who are counting the pennies but still want to look good.

For the best result start by applying the oil directly to your scalp, then massage constantly through exposure.  Be generous on the roots, particular for those stubborn dry ends.  

Once completed, loosely tie the hair in a bun to lock in oil and leave over night. Be sure to wrap a towel around your shoulders or wear an old t-shirt as oil spots on new clothes aren’t the easiest stains to remove!

Once ready to wash, a couple of washes may be necessary to fully rid the hair of oil and scent.

Repeat this routine at least once a week for a visible result which is sure to keep you pleased, and friends envious!

Amla hair oil is considered one of the best. Rich in natural herbs it’s higher in price but worth paying the extra bit, for what you’re getting. Amla (Indian gooseberry) is perfect for those whose hair is regularly coloured or in contact with heat and may be dry and damaged.

3 of the best!

Splurge     

Amla hair oil is considered one of the best. Rich in natural herbs it’s higher in price but worth paying the extra bit, for what you’re getting. Amla (Indian gooseberry) is perfect for those whose hair is regularly coloured or in contact with heat and may be dry and damaged.        

£4.00

Spend

Castor oil is made from the castor bean, and seeds of the castor plant. This is also a good oil, particularly if your hair isn’t desperately dry but just needs a shine boost. The thick texture provides good coverage which allows fuller nourishment and leaves your hair shining all day.

£3.50

Save   

Almond oil is the cheapest of the lot, but still very effective due to its core ingredient, which provides a great solution to a dry scalp.  The almond base also oozes a sweet scent which is sure to relax your minds.

£2.00

By Zara Bokhari

Jay Sean at UK AMA’s 2010

Jay Sean has had a brilliant year,having shot to superstardom in the States and teaming up with all the best recording artists-he has yet another achievement under his belt. He scooped up all four awards that he was nominated for at the AMA’s! He is interviewed backstage here on his success- enjoy!

Spot of Bother?

Whatever age somebody may be, we all dread the idea of getting spots and pimples. The thought of a spot appearing before you’re about to go on a crazy night out or on a romantic date, is terrifying. However, this is one beauty issue that concerns both males and females. There are different kinds of spots. Some people may get the odd one appearing, some people have blackheads, but there are some who suffer from a more serious form, known as Acne.

Acne is a common health issue, especially where Asian skin is concerned, more so in teenagers. So you, as Asian students could be more likely than most to get Acne.

Acne develops as a result of blockages in follicles, in the skin. As a result of bacteria, inflammation can occur, leading to redness and scarring. Acne can be partly hereditary, but no link to a particular genetic cause has been identified. There are many different reasons why Acne can occur, some of which are explained here:

• Family/Genetic history. The tendency to develop acne runs in families. So if you have family members that suffer from Acne, you may be more likely to suffer from the condition.
• Hormonal activity, such as menstrual cycles and puberty. During puberty, an increase in male sex hormones, called androgens, cause the follicular glands to grow larger and make more sebum, which is a naturally occurring oil. As Asian skin can be really oily, this is one of the reasons why you can be more prone to Acne.
• Inflammation, skin irritation or scratching of any sort will activate inflammation.

• Stress. While you study hard at uni and come under pressure to perform in exams and hand in assignments, this could act as a possible trigger for Acne.
• Bacteria in the pores.
• Students have a reputation of eating large amounts of junk. So if you survive off pizzas rather than mum’s home cooking, you could be in for a shock. Diet can also play a big part in causing Acne, so by watching what you eat, you could be helping yourself maintain a clearer complexion. A large intake of chocolate, milk and also carbohydrates can cause Acne on the skin. Yes, that’s right, all the good stuff!

Not to worry though, Acne can be treated and eventually cured as well. There are loads of products available for the treatment of acne, many of which are without any scientifically proven effects. Most of these are available over the counter at chemists or from your doctor. A lot of you, however, don’t even need to resort to treatments, because being hygienic can do the trick. Proper washing and skin care can help to remove bacteria and oils, which can cause acne. Additionally, cleaning the hands before touching affected areas can prevent transmission of the bacteria from one part of the body to another.

So now that you know a bit more, try taking a little more care to stop yourself breaking out!

By Alina Bokhari

Ooh Lalala Frisky!

Tinie Tempah proving he’s not a one-hit wonder with his new single ‘Frisky’! T This is one of the hottest tunes of them moment! Many people thought he couldn’t top first single ’Pass Out’- but i think this may well have done it! Tinie Tempah is definitely the one to watch as one of the U.K’s biggest artists-just have to see if he be a success in America!!

Amir Khan’s Triumph!

Amir Khan showed the world once again that he is a force to be reckoned with! He made his defeat of boxing rival Paulie Malignaggi look easy in his WBA light-welterweight title fight in New York at the weekend. New Yorkers themselves could fail to be anything less than impressed as Khan was in full control throughout the fight.

The boxer won using his now trademark techniques- by slowly wearing the boxer down and throwing his punches wisely.  Khan proved to be too fast for his rival by dodging punches that came his way not giving Malignaggi a chance for a comeback.  This victory shows yet again that Amir Khan always comes out on top!