(Cover) - EN Showbiz - Will.i.am says the only competition the Black Eyed Peas worry about is themselves as they are so unique.

The American band recently released their new album The Beginning, which they recorded in hotel rooms while they were on tour. Although it was only made available at the end of last year the group are already working on their new release, which Will.i.am insists will be like nothing else in the charts.

Before starting work on the music he began thinking about what people will be listening to in the future, and is now trying to replicate that sound.

You always have to look far ahead. The listeners four years from now, thats who Im looking at, thats where Im switching it up towards. You have to keep people guessing. As soon as people know what youre going to do, it isnt fun any more, he explained.

Our only competition is ourselves. If you go on iTunes, where it says Listeners also liked each of our albums has totally different artists that the fans liked. We are the only group thats like that. The new project after The Beginning is going to be totally, totally different again. All Ill say is, it aint music.

Will.iam is proud of the way the Black Eyed Peas have managed to appeal to hip-hop fans as well as pop lovers. He believes they are now on a par with music heavyweights around the world.

The star has teamed up with a number of other singers in his career, but says the person who had the greatest affect on him was Michael Jackson. The pop icon died in June 2009, and Will.i.am has never made their work public as he worries it might be disrespectful.

Working with Michael was when I was last starstruck. It was like each studio session became a eulogy to him, me gibbering away at him like, Ooh, what gave you the idea for the Thriller video? Why did you only wear one glove? he laughed to British newspaper The Daily Star. (C) Cover Media