Dale produces and sings.
I started writing blues songs in my teens, then went to loads of free parties and fell in love with BASS! I've played loads of instruments in loads of bands , doing reggae, drum and bass, gypsy jazz, folk and other stuff I can't remember now. I love songwriting and playing live through good systems.
With numberthreesoundsystem, we've got a sound which is designed to hit the heart and feet in equal measure!
Joel plays guitar and keys
I grew up in rural Derbyshire in the 1980s where there was a strong sense that any music other than rock or metal should be illegal, and listening to Duran Duran could get you a kicking in the playground, I naturally took the least dangerous option and gorged myself on Thin Lizzy, Deep Purple and Van Halen etc, with some Pink Floyd thrown in for good measure. I had a hugely loud Marshall stack which meant that I was automatically invited to join any amateur band going, despite only being able to play a couple of Iron Maiden tunes.
It was only when I lied my way into jazz college in Leeds in 1989 that I widened my scope of understanding and got into fusion artists like Mile Davis, Mike Stern and the Brecker Brothers, but importantly I found James Brown, who would become my greatest hero.
In between raves (which I largely can’t remember) I started to play in bands, all of which were unsuccessful, but I became used to playing university gigs and really enjoyed being a band musician. I guess it was at this time that I started to form my guitar style, which has turned out to be like an amateur Frank Gambale, although the mix up of influences has made me pretty versatile.
After several years of sofa-surfing and moving around, I ended up in Brighton in 1997, and found my perfect home. I loved the open, creative attitude that existed in Brighton at the end of the 90s, and although the rest of the country has caught up somewhat with Brighton, I still think it has something special about it. Fast forward a couple of years and I had joined the rat race and spent my hours on the commuter train making D&B and dubstep tracks, so I gleaned an understanding of EDM generally.
Since moving to Brighton I’ve taught guitar and piano, and played mostly in cover bands and had a great time with that, but I’ve always felt the urge to make original music. No3 Sound System is great for me, because we are trying to fuse reggae, D&B and prog into a fresh sounding package. What could be more original?
Julian plays percussion and additional loops/sounds