As a vocalist who started out in jazz and soul before diving into the world of electronic music, capturing the character of my voice in the studio is everything. I’ve experimented with a lot of vocal chains and recorded my vocals in a lot of different studios, but one piece of gear that’s completely transformed the way I record is my Focusrite ISA One preamp.
I was introduced to it while working with my band Paper Dragon. Kris, one of the other members — and someone who really understands my vocal tone — lent me his ISA One to try out on some sessions. I instantly fell in love with it. It brought this gorgeous warmth and clarity to my voice that I hadn’t been able to find with anything else. I trusted his judgement, and rightly so — I ended up loving it so much that I bought it off him!
What makes the ISA One special for me is how it enhances the natural tone of my voice. Paired with my vintage AKG 414, it creates a richness and depth that feels really expressive, bringing out the colours in my vocal, but while also keeping this incredible clarity and presence that cuts through in a mix — perfect for the drum and bass and dance tracks I’m known for.
The ISA One adds character in a really musical way, enhancing the signal without overpowering it. I love that it gives me control over the mic impedance. That kind of flexibility means I can either lean into the vintage vibe of my mic setup or dial things in for a cleaner, more modern edge when the track calls for it
Another feature I really like is the DI input on the front panel. It’s ideal for when I want to plug in instruments quickly or layer backing vocals without re-patching everything. It’s become an essential part of my workflow — especially when I’m in the zone and want to add real guitar or bass to a track.
You can hear the ISA One in action on some of my biggest tracks: ‘Remedies,’ ‘Cola,’ ‘Refuge,’ and ‘Help You Stay’ all feature vocals recorded through this preamp and it’s now an essential part of my vocal chain.
