04/2017

Joesph ‘Amp’ Fiddler is a legend amongst lovers of funk music whose first solo album Waltz of A Ghetto Fly released in 2004 still stands out as a classic album.

Amp Fiddler has been through a lot, both personally and professionally yet he has grown through his experiences to go on and create great music.

Last year’s album Motor City Booty received critical acclaim, with great remixes too to add to the dancefloor vibes.

Amp is back, about to do a tour this year, playing some great gigs such as Southport Weekender festival in June and European tour.

What do you think about funk music right now? Is it progressing into new forms?

I think funk is making its way back gradually and there are a few artists that are sticking their neck out to do something different. I think that it’s going to take more kids to come through with new forms, but I think that it’s getting better again. I never expected it to saturate the market, but as long as we see kids that are singers and rappers who are continuously creating funk music again it will always be here and create an audience.

You’ve worked with some great artists, is there anyone that you would love to work with right now?


I’d love to work with Kendrick Lemar and Bruno Mars would be cool too. I did a session with Hiroshi Tomoto who’s from Japan; it’s interesting that funk is big in some places in Japan. I’m always keeping my eyes open for someone that may not even be involved with funk that might want to get involved.

For years I’ve been writing funk with Raphael Saadiq and now I’ve met Stuart Zender (the bass player for Jamiroquai) who I’ve played with and who I’m looking forward to working with. I like a lot of English artists and a bunch of artists that are heavy into funk. I’ve never met Roni Size but I’d love to work with him.

How was it working with George Clinton?

That was incredible from the beginning, all the way to now and I still sit in with him occasionally. I’m so thankful that when I met him he also had a band full of really great musicians like Garry Shider, Eddie Hazel, Michael Hampton, Bernie Worrell, Chambers, Cordell Mosson and Ron Ford; it was an amazing time.

I met Junie Morrison before he passed away and Garry Shider was a good friend of mine. I feel blessed to have met some really amazing people like Tony Allen and worked with Leon Wares, which is amazing to me.

You have been famed for influencing J Dilla, who is a huge influence to many right now. Do you feel the MPC (Music Production Controller) is still relevant now?

It’s good that you ask that question as recently Andy Mac, who works for Akai, just brought me the new MPC and I’ll be previewing my live set with that this month, so it’s more relevant now than it ever was and I think the kids want to use it. The new unit is stand alone, it has a battery for eight hours, it’s touch screen and it’s amazing! It’s portable and you can do everything on it. We will be recording the show and you’ll be able to see it on Youtube.

Read the full interview here.