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Amp Fiddler Interview

Amp Fiddler Interview
By Regine Zamor Amp Fiddler has been a name on the lips of those “in-the-know” for several years. He has a 25-years strong career, yet is not one of those radio rotation musicians you often wish for. Behind innovation, Amp is also a laid-back dude to laugh with, to be inspired by and is humbly single. Throughout Amp’s new album, Afro Strut, a calm vibe of dance, chill, dance, think, love and dance pulsates. Collaborations with Corinne Bailey Ray and Stephanie McKay insinuate what type of mood Anthony Fiddler was going for, and the sweetest thing is that Amp got it right. The Detroit native is inadvertently “doing battle” with the release of Afro Strut, delving into love, life and the simple things that you just can’t get off of your mind. Nu-Soul: What was the inspiration behind the album? Was it about relationships and you wanting to be in one?
Amp: I suppose that is part of it. Of course, you know, I’ve been writing about scenarios in relationships. I was thinking about Afro Strut and the whole concept is about African roots and not only that, but just women and relationships. I always like to have fun and playing with words. Like ‘Faith’, it wasn’t just about having faith in relationships but having faith in life. ‘Find My Way’ is about a relationship my buddy had, and it was kind of messed up with having child support and how men get caught up in that. Also, through a lot of my friends who are brothers getting caught up in relationships and situations like child support and just really not working hard to achieve the goals, like a ‘Mans Gotta Hustle’ is about that. Nu-Soul: So what else are you trying to say with the album tracks?
Amp: It’s geared in a way that…Americans seem to be going through some immediate bullshit about something that’s supposed to keep us afraid. ‘Heaven’ is just about life and not getting caught up in the material things and just realizing that we’re happy just living lives. Sometimes love lies in family and you really have a family and it’s not about the tangible bullshit. Sometimes your family puts you in a heavenly place. Nu-Soul: So are the songs from personal experience?
Amp: Most of them are, or are experiences of my friends. Nu-Soul: So do you have any kids?
Amp: Yeah I have a son. He’s 16. Nu-Soul: What is it that keeps you grounded?
Amp: I think family is what keeps me grounded. Right now I have kids and that keeps you more grounded because you have to be responsible. Nu-Soul: How long have you been in the music industry?
Amp: Probably for 25 years. Nu-Soul: When did you start and realize that you wanted to do music?
Amp: I think I knew when I was in a record store when I was a kid. Once I started taking piano lessons I knew that I would be a keyboard player. I play the keyboard, the piano and the synthesizer. Nu-Soul: Did you have any makeshift bands growing up?
Amp: I never had success with my own bands ever. I always want to but it never works. My mother was a bass player so we played a lot together. Nu-Soul: Where does your name come from?
Amp: My dad, my grandfather they come from St Thomas and that’s actually my last name. My first name is Anthony and at the playground when I was playing basketball and my team was like “no man you’re not Anthony. That’s Amp Johnson, Amp Terry and you’re Amp Fiddler.” And I was like I guess I am Amp Fiddler, and that was before I got into music. Nu-Soul: Which song out of the album do you love the most?
Amp: I think my favorite song is ‘If I Go’ because it reminds me of the Mister Fiddler album and I love Corinne and I love her voice and its just one of my favorites. Nu-Soul: Afro Strut and Afro Butt- what was the rational behind that?
Amp: I’m really into Afrobeat and the Nigerian connection and I like that so when I wrote the song it just came to me. [Amp starts to sing] She got an Afro strut, she got an Afrooooo butt…So that melody just worked and that’s how it worked out. Nu-Soul: I love ‘Not’ by the way; I want to talk about that. Because I think it might be something that it isn’t.
Amp: I thought about some lyrics that would be interesting that I had collaborated on and whenever I have a thought. Whenever I’m talking to someone on the phone when I was in a situation like walking in a store and didn’t get service I would say “not thanks”. And people would be like ‘what did you say?’ So with that I thought about using that ‘Not’ and “I’m not trying to (continues with the lyrics)...It just makes you think, you know. Nu-Soul: Is it harder to be in relationships now with all the stuff going on?
Amp: I think that I’m just getting picky. Nu-Soul: You’re allowed to be picky. Hey if you haven’t settled yet, don’t settle now.
Amp: Maybe this will be my year. Nu-Soul: Do you perform with a live band?
Amp: Yeah, I have drums, keyboard, background singers and a full band. Nu-Soul: So are you planning on touring in the US?
Amp: Definitely. Nu-Soul: How do you feel about being an accomplished musician? I mean how do you feel as a long-term artist with the credentials and being in a niche market. Are you still waiting for that big break? Do you want to be on the radio and is there any resentment?
Amp: No. I know what it is and it takes money to make an album and I know what happens to make it as a big artist and get played on the radio making people want it and love it. The more money they put into it the more they play it, so I’m not mad at the industry because I know the game. [Chuckling] I love the game. Of course I have hopes of having a big record and being recognized. It would be a beautiful thing…it will be a beautiful thing. You know I’m a patient man. I’m a visionary so I try to always have a vision in my possibilities and when there’s a light at the end of the tunnel I see there’s a possibility available. I think that there’s a possibility this time more than last time in terms of looking towards the light. I’m a very positive person and I don’t try to dwell on the negative but look and live on the positive side and what’s available, the possibilities. Nu-Soul: Who are some artists you want to work with? Any up-and-coming artists?
Amp: Ummm… damn…. Nu-Soul: That hard huh?
Amp: That’s a hard one because I haven’t thought about that too much because I’m really not that excited anymore. I’m just doing what I do. Someone can be excited about the new music that’s out here but I’ve only thought about doing music with the Red Hot Chili Peppers, um…I always thought about working with Prince, but I never really did. Or like Pharrell, I think Pharrell is funky, he’s on some next shit. More than anyone else right now, in the modern sense today. Nu-Soul: Were you happier just singing or with just the keyboards?
Amp: I was always singing but I wasn’t always happy with it and I feel like I’m still working on making a better song. I’m just a boy out of high school who just picked it all up and put it together and I love that because it’s funky and raw and that’s the way that I see myself. I don’t worry about a lot of things like where I have to improve and so on. This is who I am and I’m happy with what I do and who I am, and I love myself. Nu-Soul: So what type of music are you listening to?
Amp: Nat King Cole, a remix. I got Coldplay on my Ipod. What else? I downloaded the other day…mostly old, older music, not too much new stuff. I think I’m just so busy right now, and when I’m home I don’t want to listen to music, I want to chill in the house. I’ve got a lot of music in my Ipod, but I don’t listen to everything because I think there’s a time for listening and a time for just acting grown up. Nu-Soul: So what is the inspiration behind everything?
Amp: Umm…I think that relationships have been an inspiration to me, but also literature and I don’t always get inspired by other music. When I come home from the road I’m not really into music, or the television, I’m into my house. I think its too much going on sometimes in this world. But you know what song I really like; it’s by Jill Scott and its called ‘It’s Love,’ because it’s so emotional. Very emotional. I’ll ride my bike sometimes and I like to hear that Coldplay song, ‘God Put a Smile on Your Face.’ Nu-Soul: What are you looking forward to?
Amp: I just feel like I have a long way to go. One of things that I wanted to complete was a clothing line called Ghettofly and I want to make Ghettofly successful. Unlike other artists with clothing lines I wanted to make something big for all the ghettos around the world. I mean real ghettos like in South Africa where people live in huts and they don’t have places to shit and piss. You know, where they don’t really have a running toilet or water and it’s a big picture, but I’d like to do something for humanity at the end of the day. I’d also like to do more within music and be more innovative and creative than I am. I don’t feel like I’ve touched on the places in dimensions like I’d like to. www.myspace.com/ampfiddler Purchase Amp Fiddler’s music at Itunes Purchase Amp Fiddler’s music at Amazon

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