Crossword Genius

Somewhat vocal male outcast (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

ishmael

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'outcast' is the definition.
(I know that outcast can be written as Ishmael)

'somewhat vocal male' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'somewhat' could be 'ish' (eg 'amateurish' means somewhat amateur) and 'ish' is found within the answer.
an anagram of 'male' is 'mael' which is located in the answer.
No letters remain.
This explanation may well be incorrect...

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for ishmael that I've seen before include "patriarch" , "Abraham's son; Moby Dick narrator" , "The outcast of Genesis hails me" , "'Call me . . . . . . .' (first line of Moby Dick)" , "Son of Abraham - narrator of Moby Dick" .)

I've seen this clue in The Daily Express.
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