Marcus Mumford and producer Aaron Dessner trace how Mumford's vocal recording approach has shifted over the years, from the SM7 on early Mumford & Sons records to vintage condensers for solo work, and back again. The through-line: which mic actually gets the best performance out of him on a given day.
The SM7 stuck on early records because it handles wide dynamic range without falling apart, whether he's singing quiet or pushing hard. His go-to chain today is a Neve 1066 preamp into a Lisson Grove AR1 compressor, what he calls his golden chain for vocals.
The more transferable insight is psychological. An expensive, rare mic like a U47 or M49 can make a singer feel reverent and hold back, which suits detailed, quiet performances. For something louder or more physical, the SM7 removes that weight and frees him up.
He also keeps vocals fairly dry, with minimal reverb, letting the chain and the performance carry the sound.