Cover Drive don't care whether their music is considered ''cool''.

The 'Explode' hitmakers - who have toured with chart-topping stars including Rihanna, Kelly Clarkson and JLS - think their Bajan background sets them apart as a band and makes them stand out in the charts, regardless of what genre is popular at the moment.

Singer Amanda Reifer exclusively told BANG Showbiz: ''I definitely think being from Barbados sets us apart, that's who we are - we're all about being ourselves and we don't care if it's considered cool or not. We are Bajans so our culture will always be a big influence on us.

''It's an advantage and it's a disadvantage at the same time because the charts are driven by dance music right now. There aren't that many instrument bands in the UK at the moment.

''We just write what we like; it's not typical four-to-the-floor music every time. I'm not sure it always fits in, but the most important thing is to stand out and leave and impression.''

The band - also made up of drummer and rapper T-Ray Armstrong, bass player Jamar Harding, and guitarist and keyboard player Barry 'Bar-Man' Hill - are back in the studio penning tracks for their second album and have promised much more introspective lyrics this time around.

Amanda said: ''We've been through a lot in the past two years, in our last album we had just come from Barbados and we were writing about what we knew - having a good time and living in the sun.

''Since then we've been though so many things, good and bad, we just want to explore that journey a little bit more and let people in on what we feel. It's starting to sound amazing so were really excited for that, it's going to be very interesting and intricate.''