SOUNDCIRCLE COLLECTIVE

SoundCircle? Well, it's a lot of things that constantly evolve and functions like a revolving door.

What started out as a group of guys (Andre Royster, LaVell Williams, and Jim Stone) who had all the right elements for event promotions and coordination (aka parties), turned into a band / music production team (LaVell Williams (writer, vocals), Dan Hadad (sax), and Andre' Royster (keys, writer, vocals/also see bio).   And a DJ element has been added to the fold. When the band stopped gigging regularly, the dj component evolved, and later branched off into a recording studio.    The atmosphere surrounding the work that SoundCircle produces in all its forms is eclectic, from soulful house, funky techno, and nu-jazz to broken beat.

SoundCircle event promotions /coordinators have produced "events" for DEMF, Ursula Rucker, Jazzanova, Carl Craig (Planet E), Masters at Work, and Mark Farina (Om Records) and Naked Music.  

SoundCircle dj's have a regular Friday night set at Detroit's Meetery Eatery for the PicNap Poetry Series.   SoundCircle the Production team is currently working with singer/producer Inohs Sivad.   Other artists the team has worked with include: (Poet) Kalimah Johnson and (Singer/Songwriter) naomi daniel (formerly of Planet E Records).

: revolving-door
Function: adjective
: characterized by a frequent succession (as of personnel) or a cycle of leaving and returning. (Webster definition)

The most common revolving door unit has a center shaft or an "axle" that holds all the doors together and makes sure people walk through safely and get to where they need to be.   That's what Andre' Royster is for Sound Circle :   the axle, the one who really works hard to make all the soulful funk-e dreams out there come true.

Andre' has been in the business of music in one-way, shape, or form for a number of years.    The real reason why Sound Circle is Sound Circle and does all it does is because Andre' has a deep passion, simply, for being creative all the time.   When the band isn't gigging, the dj's crafting tracks and spinning.   When the dj's off, there's something going on in his studio, and the producer is making music, i.e. writing lyrics, or arranging background vocals, or laying down a bass line, etc., etc., etc.   You know, the stuff that musicians do.  

"Creativity just is.   It's in me and it ain't going away.   I love what I do and I wouldn't do anything else ever, ever, ever."

Born in June 1971 on the southside of Chicago. At an early age he was introduced to the music of EWF, Stevie Wonder, Roy Ayers, and others. But it wasn't until the early 80's when he got a dose of the music that would change his life. In 1983, a former schoolmate named Ron Carroll brought a crate of records to school and played them for our Christmas party. That moment combined with doses of WBMX impacted his life.  His goal is to play the music that makes him dance. He started buying records and going to many parties. His influences include Ron Hardy, Lil' Louis, Terry Hunter and Boo Williams. "I just want people to open their minds and enjoy the vision".