Joseph "Amp" Fiddler, originally a keyboardist from Detroit, is a funk and … Read Full Bio ↴Joseph "Amp" Fiddler, originally a keyboardist from Detroit, is a funk and soul musician who has worked with Enchantment, the Dramatics, George Clinton, Moodyman, Jamiroquai, The Brand New Heavies, Fishbone and Maxwell.

Along with his brother, Budz, he realsed the album Mr Fiddler in 1990 on Elektra. His debut solo album Waltz of a Ghetto Fly was released in 2004.

The new album'Afro Strut' is the follow up to that record and a sign that his assured and open-minded approach to his own sound has engendered a stylistic leap forward, creating in the process a diverse and ambitious second album. As a man who has achieved almost every goal he has set himself, whether it be becoming a multi instrumentalist talent, joining George Clinton's Funkadelic, or developing a base for like minded musical luminaries to collaborate and create, it was always to be expected. 'Waltz...' was more of a vibe, a full stop on a long period of his life to that point and a drawing together of unfinished songs and feelings from his youth. 'Afro Strut' was to be the fresh start that sees Amp able to look further forward as well as back to his roots, and as a result has the feel of a more fully-realised vision.

The array of collaborators and contributors to the record further emphasises this approach. Opener 'Faith' sets the standard with Amp joined by Raphael Saadiq on a timelessly deep ode to spirituality of a different kind. The UK's Justin Crawford (one half of Manchester-based dj/production outfit Unabombers) is brought in for two of the standout disco-flecked cuts 'Right Where You Are' and 'Ridin'. Amp's Jazz heritage rolls to the fore on the uplifting 'If I Don't', recalling his days in doo-wop outfit The Enchantments as a teenager and laying open the musical make up of its creator.

The sadly departed Jay Dilla's group Slum Village, another product of Camp Amp, the basement recording studio at Amp's 7 Mile home that has also had local luminary Moodyman in regular residence, is represented on the bumping 'I Need You'. Tony Allen, the man accredited with creating afrobeat alongside the great Fela Kuti, provides the drums on Afro Strut and another great, Jay-Z collaborator, Grammy winning string arranger and former member of MFSB Larry Gold steps up on album closer 'Hustle.

By referencing many of the great contemporary black music movements be it Jazz, Doo-Wop, Afrobeat, soul or hip-hop, Afro Strut is, like its predecessor, without modern day comparison. The collusion of a lifetime of influences and experiences that are drawn on, used, discarded and Amp-lified across twelve rich slices of raw funk.

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If I Don't Feat. Corinne Bailey Rae
Amp Fiddler Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴

′Cause everythin' [Incomprehensible]
You the one I′ve been dreamin' of
Baby, you've gone away
Say you′ll never come back again
And I know that

If I don′t think 'bout you
I′ll be sad, yeah

If I don't stop thinkin′ about you
I'll be mad
If I don′t not think about you
I'll be glad

'Cause if I don′t think about you
Everythin′ all around is kinda blue
And girl, you know
Our life is gonna change

And if you leave, leave alone
I will never call you up again
And deep inside you know that

If I don't think ′bout you
I'll be sad, yeah
If I don′t stop thinkin' ′bout you
I'll be mad, yeah
If I don't not think ′bout you
I′ll be glad, yeah

You'll be out of my life
Baby, we are in love

And if I don′t think 'bout you
I′ll be sad, oh
If I don't think ′bout you
I'll be glad

If I don't stop thinkin′ ′bout you
I'll lose my mind
′Cause baby, you leave me out of sight
And I'll be away from your life, movin′ on

'Cause if I don′t stop thinkin' about you
I'll be sad, oh
If I don′t stop thinkin′ 'bout you
If I don′t not think about you
I'll be sad

If I don′t

Overall Meaning

think about you, the world around me feels blue. The vocalist is expressing that the one they've been dreaming of has gone away, and they don't want to feel sad. They don't want to stop thinking about this person because they fear it will make them go crazy. They use this repetitive structure of "If I don't think 'bout you, I'll be [emotion]" to convey the importance of this person in their life. The chorus lyrics imply that this person leaving will shake up their life.

Throughout the song, there are references to the dichotomy of sadness and happiness. The vocals alternate between these two conflicting emotions. The chorus adopts a relentless conviction in holding onto this person, despite the harmful impact on their mind. The melancholy sound of the music and the bluesy keyboard chords give a sense of longing and heartbreak.

Writer(s): Joseph Anthony Fiddler

Contributed by Vivian V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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