Cover Drive

Cover Drive
Origin Barbados
Genres Reggae, R&B, dancehall, soca, hip hop, pop, reggae fusion, dance
Years active 2010–present
Labels Polydor (UK) 2010-13
LAB Records (UK)
Cherrytree (US)
Associated acts Rihanna, Dappy, Far East Movement, Jennifer Lopez
Website wearecoverdrive.com
Members Amanda Reifer
T-Ray Armstrong
Barry 'Bar-Mon' Hill
Jamar Harding
For the cricket shot, see Batting (cricket)#Drive.

Cover Drive are a four-piece band from Barbados consisting of Amanda Reifer, T-Ray Armstrong, Barry "Bar-Mon" Hill and Jamar Harding. They have gained commercial success in the United Kingdom.

The band was signed by record label Global Talent, a division of Polydor Records. The band obtained one of its major breaks by performing as an opening act during Rihanna's Loud Tour.[1][2][3] [4] The band were featured in upcoming promotions by the Barbados Tourism Authority, an international tourist-marketing agency of the Barbados government.[5][6] The group released their debut album Bajan Style on 7 May 2012 in the United Kingdom peaking at number 14. "Lovesick Riddim" was announced as their lead single from their EP, Liming In Limbo on 13 December 2013.[7] The group's highly anticipated second album will be released on late 2014. The lead single, Love Junkie is released on 27 July 2014.

History

2010: Formation

The band formed in their native country Barbados.[8] The band consists of four members, Amanda; the lead singer; T-Ray, the Drum/Backing Vocals, Barry "Bar Man" Hill the Keyboardist/guitarist and Jamar, the bassist.[9] Amanda met T-Ray when she became his babysitter despite being only two years older, T-Ray was in the same year as Jamar at school although they did not attend the same school, Amanda met Bar-Man at college because they were in the same year.[10]

2011-12: Commercial success and Bajan Style

Cover Drive gained a lot of subscribers on YouTube with videos of them covering popular songs. In April 2011, the band signed a publishing deal with Sony and a recording deal with Polydor Records.[11] After the band was signed they began writing and recording material for their debut album. Whilst in the studio, they met American producer J. R. Rotem who produced their debut single, "Lick Ya Down" which was released on 28 August 2011. After receiving heavy airplay and support on both the Radio and Music channels in the United Kingdom, the song debuted and peaked #9 on the UK Singles Chart and #3 on the UK R&B Singles Chart.

They later released their second single "Twilight" on 22 January 2012, which was their first single to chart in Ireland debuting at #40.[12] The song peaked at #1 on the UK iTunes chart within hours of its release. The song was produced by Quiz & Larossi. On 29 January 2012, "Twilight" debuted at #1 on the charts in the United Kingdom for the week ending 4 February 2012. On 8 March 2012, they announced "Sparks" as the third single from the album.[13] Sparks was released on 29 April and debuted and peaked at number 4 on the UK Singles Chart. Their debut album, Bajan Style, was released on 7 May 2012 and debuted on the UK Album Chart at number 14.[14] The fourth release from Bajan Style, "Explode" was re-worked with vocals from former N-Dubz member, Dappy, it was released from the album on 26 August 2012, and it entered at 29 on the UK Singles Chart [15] They also featured on Far East Movement's "Turn Up the Love" which was released on 21 June 2012. It peaked at 13 on the UK Singles Chart. They toured with Kelly Clarkson on the UK & Ireland leg of her Stronger Tour.

2013-present: Second studio album

A lyric video for a song called "All My Love", was uploaded to the band's official YouTube channel on 14 February 2013. The music video was uploaded to YouTube on 1 March 2013 [16]

The band was featured in a May 2013 episode of the HGTV series House Hunters International as they searched Barbados for a house together as a band, preparing for their next album.[17]

A lyric video for their lead single off of their EP was called "Lovesick Riddim" was uploaded to the band's official YouTube channel on 7 August 2013. The music video was uploaded to YouTube on 10 August 2013.[18] An EP is due for release which is called "Liming In Limbo". The EP is a taster of what is to come on their upcoming album.[19] The EP was released 13 December 2013.[20]

Cover Drive released a song for Crop Over 2014 called "Dis Ain't Love". A lyric/music video was released via their YouTube account on 6 June 2014. Cover Drive also announced in June 2014 that they were recording the music video for the lead single off of their upcoming second single. It was later announced to be called "Love Junkie". A lyric video was uploaded on their YouTube account on 3 June. The music was uploaded on to Vevo on 27 June. The song is set for release on 27 July (UK/Europe) and 29 July (Rest of world).[21]

Members

Discography

Studio albums

EP's

References

  1. ↑ Ramsay, Allison (7 August 2012). "Rihanna LOUD tour rocks Kensington". The Barbados Advocate (Advocate Co. Ltd.). Retrieved 6 February 2012.
  2. ↑ Natanga Smith Hurdle (3 February 2012). "Cover this!". nationnews.com.
  3. ↑ Staff writer (19 August 2011). "Rihanna helps another Barbados band, Cover Drive". Associate Press. Yahoo News. Retrieved 8 February 2012.
  4. ↑ Staff writer. "Cover Drive to open show". Barbados Today.
  5. ↑ "BTA – local group Cover Drive". cbc.bb. 8 March 2012.
  6. ↑ Maurice Giles (9 March 2012). "Cover Drive back home". nationnews.com.
  7. ↑ "Cover Drive Return With New Video ‘Lovesick Riddim’ - @InspireLS - #LiveWell The No.1 Destination for all things #LIFESTYLE". Retrieved 9 March 2015.
  8. ↑ "Cover Drive scores a high note". networkbarbados.com. 30 January 2012.
  9. ↑ "Cover Drive – The Big Interview". Retrieved 19 July 2012.
  10. ↑ Ricky Jordan (31 January 2012). "Top score". nationnews.com.
  11. ↑ "CoverDrive looking to score big with new record deal". Retrieved 19 July 2012.
  12. ↑ "Chart Archive >Irish Singles > Week 04 2012". IRMA.
  13. ↑ "Cover Drive debut new single 'Sparks' - listen". Retrieved 19 July 2012.
  14. ↑ "Keane land fifth consecutive No.1 album with 'Strangeland'". Retrieved 19 July 2012.
  15. ↑ "Cover Drive Unveil 'Explode' Video Featuring Dappy - Watch Now". Retrieved 7 August 2012.
  16. ↑ "Cover Drive - All My Love (Official Lyric Video)". YouTube. 2013-02-14. Retrieved 2013-08-31.
  17. ↑ "Band Moves Back Home to Barbados". hgtv.com. Retrieved 12 May 2013.
  18. ↑ "Cover Drive - Lovesick Riddim". YouTube. 2013-08-10. Retrieved 2013-08-31.
  19. ↑ "INTERVIEW: Cover Drive’s Amanda Talks New Single ‘Love Riddim,’ Touring With Rihanna and More". WeAreCoverDrive. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
  20. ↑ "Cover Drive on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
  21. ↑ "Cover Drive - Love Junkie". YouTube. 27 June 2014. Retrieved 9 March 2015.

External links