For example, I don't sing well when I'm cold. The temperature needs to be a little warm in the vocal booth. I also do really well when a stranger is watching. It puts me in performance mode. I try to be rested, fed and feeling positive.
Performance verses perfection.
If I can stress one overall theme in getting a good vocal, it's the idea of performance verses perfection. I've learned that there is something incredibly important in that vocal pass that may be a little sharp, but has miles of heart and truth. Sometimes those are the best ones. Sometimes they are not. I remember I spent one night doing about what seemed like about 30 passes on the beginning line of a song.