There’s a calm certainty in the way Isaac Voo speaks now, as if he’s finally standing in a place he built himself. From survival shows to solo releases, his journey has been marked by both reinvention and arrival. In this exclusive interview with TimelessNotes LIVE, Isaac opens up about what it means to grow without erasing your past and to represent honestly without losing yourself.
Q: You were the first Malaysian to debut as a K-pop idol — how has that shaped your sense of identity as an artist and as a person?
Isaac: Being the first Malaysian to debut as a K-pop idol shaped my identity in a very deep way. At the beginning, I didn’t fully realise the weight of it – I was just a young boy chasing a dream in a foreign country. But over time, I understood that I wasn’t only representing myself anymore, I was carrying the hopes, curiosity, and pride of Malaysia with me.
As an artist, it taught me discipline, resilience, and professionalism. K-pop trained me to respect the craft to take every detail seriously, whether it’s music, performance, or attitude. But as a person, it also made me more grounded. Being far from home, facing language barriers, cultural differences, and moments of being ignored or underestimated forced me to grow faster and know who I really am.
Today, I see myself as a bridge – someone who can connect cultures. I’m proud to bring Malaysian identity into global spaces, and at the same time, I want to show Malaysians that dreams don’t have borders. That journey didn’t just shape my career; it shaped my mindset, my values, and my purpose moving forward.
Q. Growing up in Kota Kinabalu, how did your environment and family shape your ideas about music and performance?
Isaac: I grew up in a family where almost everyone could sing, but funny enough, I was the only one who wasn’t into singing at first – I was more into dancing. Being surrounded by music made performing feel normal, not scary, and dance became my first language on stage. Over time, that environment slowly pulled me into singing too, and now both dance and vocals are equally part of who I am as an artist.
Q. You’ve experienced auditions, group activities, survival shows, and solo work — what thread do you see connecting all those phases of your artistry?
Isaac: The thread connecting all those phases is resilience and self discovery. Auditions taught me hunger, survival shows tested my mentality, group activities taught me teamwork and responsibility, and solo work forced me to truly face who I am as an artist. Through every stage, the format changed but my mindset didn’t. I kept learning, adapting, and choosing not to give up. Each phase shaped me, and together they built the artist I am today.
Q. When you’re choosing what to release next, what do you trust more: your instinct in the moment, or your past experience telling you what works?
Isaac: I trust both, but instinct comes first. Experience tells me what works, but instinct tells me what feels honest in that moment. If I only follow formulas, the music loses its soul so I let my experience guide the execution, while my instinct decides the direction.
Q. How do you personally balance making music that feels honest to you with music that connects immediately with listeners?
Isaac: I start with honesty. If I don’t feel it, the listener won’t either. But I also think about how people experience music emotionally, not just conceptually. So I focus on clear emotions, relatable moments, and melodies that feel immediate, while keeping the story true to me. When honesty meets accessibility, that’s when music really connects.
Q. Is there a version of yourself — artistically or personally — that you’ve outgrown, but still feel grateful for?
Isaac: Yes, definitely. I’ve outgrown the version of myself that felt the need to constantly prove my worth or fit into expectations that weren’t truly mine. But I’m very grateful for that version, because he survived, learned, and carried me to where I am now. Without him, I wouldn’t have the clarity, confidence, and self belief I have today.
Q. When everything gets loud — schedules, expectations, opinions — what helps you come back to yourself?
Isaac: When everything gets loud, I slow down and go back to the basics: music, movement, and quiet moments with the people who know me beyond the stage. Stepping away from noise helps me remember why I started in the first place. That’s how I reconnect with myself and reset my focus.
Q. If you could design a project that blends Malaysian culture with another musical world — Korean, Western, or something else — what would that sound like?
Isaac: I imagine something simple and genuine. The base would be modern pop or K-pop inspired, but with touches of Malaysian culture like the sound of kompang woven into the rhythm, or traditional Malaysian dance elements blended into the choreography. It wouldn’t feel forced or traditional-heavy, just small details that give the music a Malaysian soul. Something easy to enjoy, but meaningful when you look closer.
Q. If you could invent one new nickname for yourself based on who you are today, what would it be — and why?
Isaac: I’d call myself “The 다리(Dari) = The Bridge.” Right now, that name feels honest to who I am. I’ve crossed different stages of life: dance to singing, Malaysia to Korea, group work to solo and each phase shaped me differently. Instead of choosing one side, I’ve learned to connect them. I like the idea of being someone who links cultures, sounds, and experiences, and turns them into something new.
Q. If you had to choose one song from your catalog that feels like an audio selfie — something that truly says “this is me” — which would it be?
Isaac: I’d choose Singa, because it feels like the most honest version of me right now. It represents my courage, my hunger, and my decision to stand strong in my own lane after everything I’ve been through. The song carries both vulnerability and power, quiet moments and bold ones just like me. If someone wants to understand who I am today, Singa says it clearly without me having to explain too much.
Q. What is something you hope fans understand about you without you ever having to say it directly?
Isaac: I hope fans can understand that behind everything I do, there’s sincerity and persistence. Even during quiet periods or uncertain moments, I never stopped caring about music, growth, or the people who support me. I may not always explain my struggles or thoughts, but I hope my effort, consistency, and the way I keep showing up speak for me.
Q. When you look back on your career ten years from now, what’s the moment you hope people recognize as defining?
Isaac: I hope people recognize the moment when I chose growth over comfort. Not a single achievement, but a period where I kept moving forward even when the path wasn’t clear: redefining myself, taking risks, and continuing to create honestly.
What lingers after our conversation with Isaac Voo isn’t ambition, but intention. He cares about being seen and understood, through effort, consistency, and music that carries his truth. If his legacy is one of genuine connection rather than spectacle, it’s because he built it that way, patiently, step by step, across the bridge he continues to walk.
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