Interview: Plain White T's

From humble beginnings nine years ago, the Plain White T’s persistent and tenacious work ethic has paid off.  The PWT’s recorded their first album, Stop, in a friend’s basement, feverishly hit the road, and never looked back.  They were quickly snatched up by indie music label Fearless Records and wasted little time before recording their second album, All That We Needed, which exponentially expanded their fan base with the poetic “Hey There Delilah.”  Shortly after, major labels came knocking down the PWT’s doors.  They signed with Hollywood Records, and recently released their third record, Every Second Counts, with the hit song, “Hate (I really Don’t Like You).”    

Lead singer Tom Higgenson and high school friend Dave Tirio (guitar) founded the band in suburban Chicago.  While there have been a few lineup changes through the years, the core of the group has remained intact.  Mike Retondo (bass, vocals), De’Mar Hamilton (drums), and Tim Lopez (guitar, vocals), joined Higgenson and Tirio to complete the PWT’s lineup.          

While embarking on the band’s first tour to promote Every Second Counts, I caught up with Tom and Tim on the Nintendo Fusion Tour. 

How did the relationship with your current label, Hollywood Records, begin?  Was their a courtship involved? 

Plain White T’s:

Tim - We played a MySpace show in Los Angeles and that was the first time [Hollywood Records] came out and saw us.  I think Fearless [Records], our last label, was almost looking to pass us onto someone bigger. 

Tom - Fearless knew they couldn’t do as much for us as a bigger label could.  I think Fearless felt that we had the potential to do bigger things. 

Tim - Matt from Hollywood took care of us for months before we ever signed with them.  We were already in the studio working on this album for Hollywood before we had ever signed a contract with them.  It was good faith on their part that we were going to go with them.  They were already shelling out money on us, taking us out to dinner, and putting us up in apartments well before we signed with them. 

Tom - We had a meeting with Hollywood people before we signed, and they were the most genuine, sincere people that we had met in the business.  Everybody seemed real; they liked the band; and seemed to be good people.   

A sense of trust was established right away?
Tim - Yes, Hollywood has a very hands-on feel.  The team that is working with you; you know everybody by name and face.  You’re not making phone calls to some random guy that you don’t know. 

So Hollywood Records has that “indie” label type feel?

Tom - Exactly, except Walt Disney runs it (laughs). 

I went to Fearless Records’ website, and they are also promoting the new album Every Second Counts.  Do you still have a relationship with them?

Article Author: M.D. Sandwasher

Blogcritics' M.D. Sandwasher moonlights as a freelance writer and is an avid lover of sports and music. He regularly contributes to Blogcritics and maintains his own blog.

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