Back in October at the Alternative Press Art Show in New York City, we caught up with Plain White T’s frontman Tom Higgenson to talk about the new album, iCarly, and his favorite AP covers! Check it out below and make sure you catch Plain White T’s on tour this February with Parachute!

First can you introduce yourself and what you do?
I’m Tom and I play in the band Plain White T’s.

You were on iCarly a few months ago. How was that?
It was fun! They’re all really, really, really incredible people. They were so sweet and so fun. It was a really cool experience.

So we’re at the AP Art Show. What has been the best piece you’ve seen so far today?
The Marilyn Manson one was really cool. I love Shawn Harris’, he’s been a good friend of ours for awhile and we’ve always been big fans of his art so it’s great to see that in here.

Did you grow up reading AP?
Well, my first job ever when I was like, fifteen years old was at 7/11, so I would always read them when I had time. I’d be like “Oh cool, Tori Amos, Nine Inch Nails, Nirvana!” and just flip through they pages.

Do you remember some of the first covers you picked up?
Probably Nirvana, I remember that pretty well.

Do you guys have a cover?
No, we don’t… yet. Soon, with this new album.

When’s the new album coming out?
December 7th!

What was the recording process like for that?
It was great! I actually built a study in my basement, so we recorded it all there. I decked it out like an old haunted mansion, so it has chandeliers, creepy wall paper, stuff like that. It’s really cool.

Do you have any touring plans to promote the album?
Yeah, we’re going to go on tour next year. No shows confirmed yet, but we’re going to be doing a bunch of radio shows for the album in December, and then a proper tour early next year.

Since we’re at the AP Art Show I have to ask, do you do any art yourself?
I’m more of a concept guy, I can do art up here, but I can’t really get it on paper. I’m good with visuals, and I’m good with seeing things, but actually putting them down… not so much.

Is anyone in the band good at art?
Dave, our guitar player, used to do all of our shirt designs and things like that for awhile. He did our All The We Needed album cover. He’s my go to guy if I have an idea.

It’s been awhile since you released anything. What are your goals for this next album?
World domination.

Oh! Do you have a step-by-step plan?
Well, first the album has to come out, then millions of people have to buy it, and then we have to go on tour and sell it out wherever we go.

Do you have anything else you’d like to add?
Rock & Roll… iCarly.