For the past six years, York third-year student Sean “DJ Saigon” Huynh has immersed himself in Toronto’s world-renowned jungle scene, and is quickly rising to become one of the city’s biggest drum and bass promoters, reported the Toronto Star April 25. On top of working and studying sociology and communications in York’s Faculty of Arts, the 23-year-old Scarborough resident finds the time to organize, promote, and perform weekly in drum and bass shows featuring the top DJs and MCs in the business.
Saigon was introduced to jungle/drum and bass at 16, when a friend brought him to a show at Boa, then called Jet – a club he now DJs in. Like many first-time “junglists,” he fell in love with the scene immediately. “The music and energy of the crowd was intense,” recalls Saigon. “There isn’t a dance more hype than the drum and bass dance.” When playing with the high profile DJs he grew up listening to, Saigon says he is more anxious and excited than he is nervous. “I always have a good time performing…. It’s wicked to see the crowd pop off and when it does, there’s no better feeling,” he says, smiling.
York student designs romance comic book
Publisher Ed Brisson says he chose to publish romance comic book True Loves because he had met one of its authors, former York student Jason Turner, at a comic book shindig, reported the Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Times April 25. Turner studied art at York University from 1989-1992 and designed the novel, and contributed to the story. His fiancée, Manien Botma, who hails from Johannesburg, South Africa, co-authored the story.
Turner, who had always wanted to make a living writing or drawing, was looking for work. So, he says, a friend suggested writing Harlequin Romance novels. “I did some research and all the characters were super glamorous and rich people,” he explained. He said he just couldn’t relate. “In the back of my head I was trying to imagine a romance that was Vancouver-based which would make sense to me.” It was about this time he was pitching the idea for a comic strip to Vancouver’s Westender newspaper, but things fell through. But he decided to take his ideas online and after a while True Loves was born.