exclusive! q&a with plain white t's singer tom higgenson

We asked, he answered: You knew we'd get the inside track on the recent Q&A session with Plain White T's frontman Tom Higgenson—and, sure enough, we snuck in there and got some stuff you won't find anywhere else. Here's Part 1 of our exclusive chat with Tom!

ABC Family: Do you feel that having a filmmaker around for &#quot;Meet Me in California&#quot; affected your recording process at all, even in a positive way?

Tom: If anything, there were a few moments where, if we're just being boring, and we see that he's filming, maybe I'll make a goofy face at the camera or ham it up a bit, just to give him something. And I think that puts us in a more positive state of mind. Knowing that he's filming, I think we tried to show more personality. Be bigger, more exciting. Maybe it helped to keep us positive, having fun with the recording.

ABC Family: Are there any disadvantages to recording the next album after you've had your huge hit?

Tom: No. (Laughs.) Of course, there's more pressure, but I think we're actually at a huge advantage now. We've made four records, and it's always been half about making a great record, and the other half is just getting out there, finding fans, playing really small shows, and trying to convince every kid there to buy your CD so you can make some fans, and make some money to get to the next show. There's so much that always went into it besides just making music.

Of course, we're busier now than we ever have been—but the fact that there are already people out there, because of the success of the last album, waiting to hear what we'll do next, wanting something from us, it was easier. We're not going to have to worry about people hearing this. If we make a great product, if we make this record that we all believe in, they're going to hear it.

ABC Family: You know it's going to get out there.

Tom: Exactly. The success has kept us in a good state of mind—knowing that people were going to hear this thing, and all we had to do was make it the best that we could.

ABC Family: How does the reality of success compare to the dream?

Tom: Well, the reality is, nothing's changed that much. When you have these dreams, you think that's going to be your happiness. You know—if I could just have a No. 1 single, then everything will be cool, and I'll be happy. As if that's the key to happiness. And it's not like that. It more like, &#quot;OK, awesome, I got this, but why does this girl still not like me? Or why do I still want to have ANOTHER No. 1 single?&#quot; It doesn't really fulfill you in the ways that you think it will.

But, at the same time, I am living a dream, and you do have to remind yourself of that. Because we do stay so busy, always on the move, that once in a while you do have to sit back and remember, &#quot;Wait a minute, this is HAPPENING, and this is awesome.&#quot; Even though maybe it's not as life-altering on the inside as you thought it might be, you still have to remember, hey, this is happening, and we made it happen.

The other day we were arguing about our guarantees, or how come we're only making this much from this show, or where's it all going, you know, just going through our costs. And it's like—we have to remember, OK, just imagine this were like four years ago, we're playing and getting $100 a night. Once you put it into perspective, that's when you're like, OK, this is good.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Don't miss the exciting conclusion of our exclusive interview with Tom, where he tells us about the PWT's latest famous fan and what his bandmates are really like.

Question: Do you agree with Tom that the pressure's on—are you expecting bigger things than ever from the new album?