Saucy Dog Shinya Ishihara X ACCENTUM Clip
Shinya Ishihara is the vocalist and guitarist for the three-piece guitar rock band Saucy Dog. We invited Ishihara—who is constantly engaged with sound as a creator—to try out the "ACCENTUM Clip," an open-ear headphone. Ishihara, who regularly enjoys not only music but also radio programs and video content, remarked on how the device "blends seamlessly into daily life" and allows him to "listen to music anytime without stress." We also asked him about the appeal of this new kind of listening experience.
Profile : Saucy Dog – Shinya Ishihara
The band’s greatest appeal lies in vocalist Shinya Ishihara’s lyrics, melodies, and voice. They enjoy broad support, particularly among young people, with their songs—such as "Itsuka," "Yui," and "Cinderella Boy"—surpassing 3 billion total streaming plays. In December 2022, they made their debut appearance at the NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen. On December 17, 2025, they released their 9th mini-album, *Curry Rice*. They are also highly active in live performances, including successful large-scale arena tours and appearances at major rock festivals; notably, they successfully held their first solo dome concert on January 4, 2026, in Osaka—the city where the band was formed—and are set to embark on the "Saucy Dog ARENA TOUR 2026-2027 NEW GAME+" starting in September 2026.
What kind of activities are you currently engaged in?
I’m currently taking a bit of a break from live performances to focus entirely on production—things like gathering new inspiration. The idea is to maintain the signature Saucy Dog sound while also trying out some new things; that’s the mindset I always bring to the work.
Is there anything new you’re trying out?
I’ve started listening to a wider range of genres than before K-pop, Western music, alternative rock... I’m listening to a broad spectrum of music now, and I want to take that input and channel it into my own work. You’ll have to listen to find out what that sounds like.
What prompted you to start listening to such a wide variety of music?
I’ve had some time off, so I’ve been going to various artists' live shows and having friends share the music they love with me. I think connecting those experiences to my own tastes is what led me to broaden my listening habits. It’s great discovering things and thinking, "Oh, this kind of music is actually really good." I also discover new songs through social media algorithms.
Is there any music you’re really into lately?
I’ve been listening to quite a bit of K-pop recently. I have a lot of acquaintances who like K-pop and Korean dramas, and I’ve started visiting Korea myself, which sparked my interest. I’ve also started listening to healing music.
Tell us about your approach to music production.
It’s important to us that we can reproduce the music live as a trio; we prefer not to add extra sounds, so we aim to create music that works effectively in a live setting with just the three of us. We also make a conscious effort to avoid anything that feels merely "passable." We want to keep creating music that doesn't come across as just "ordinary"—music that doesn't feel that way to us, either.
What role does music play in your daily life?
I don’t really have a personal interest in music itself. it’s just there, and I like that sense of neither affirming nor denying it. Yet, since music is my job, I do find myself agonizing over it or getting excited by it. I’d like to maintain a relationship with it where we can just get along well—that’s the kind of connection I want to have.
Is the music you listen to for work different from what you listen to when relaxing?
It might be completely different. Whether I’m listening at home or watching a live show, I used to listen with a mindset of "studying"—a sort of occupational hazard—so, honestly, there were times I didn't really want to listen at all. I couldn't just enjoy the music itself. Now that I’ve put a little distance between myself and music, I think I’m able to enjoy it normally.
Could you tell us about your stance toward music?
Since music is my profession, whenever I went to a concert or listened at home, my ears would automatically focus on the technical side—thinking things like, "Maybe they should do it this way," or "Oh, there's that approach, too." I was always listening to learn. But now that I’ve stepped back a bit, I’m spending more time on other forms of input. I’m able to dedicate time to things I couldn't before, which has given me more peace of mind; I feel like I can approach music with that same balanced mindset now.
How much music do you listen to in your daily life?
I actually spend more time not listening to music. I suppose I could listen to it constantly like having it playing in the background at home. but I don’t want the music to blend in with the sounds of everyday life. I prefer for the music to play only when I’ve made a conscious decision to sit down and listen to it.
How would you describe your commitment to audio?
To be honest, I’m not overly particular about it, but I do dislike sound that’s too thin and flimsy. On the other hand, I also hate it when the sound is muddy or clumpy—like a big, indistinct mass. Ideally, I want something in between, where you can still hear a solid, punchy low end. Being able to clearly distinguish between the different sounds is really important to me; I want a sound that lets me clearly hear what the bass is playing, or figure out exactly what the guitar is doing—even if the distortion makes the chords hard to decipher.
Do you have a particular approach to the design of audio equipment?
I really care about the design. I love clothes, so naturally, the item has to match the outfit. That’s why I pay close attention to the design—I want something good. And it’s even better if it’s stylish, right?
Could you tell me what kind of image you had—or currently have—of the Sennheiser brand?
Sennheiser is a name I hear all the time—it feels like I’ve known it forever. I’ve actually used their microphones at live shows, too—was it the e945? I always use the e945 or 935 in the studio; I have a huge amount of trust in Sennheiser.
What are your impressions of listening to music with the ACCENTUM Clip?
My impression was that the sound is quite clear; listening to the radio with this felt very comfortable. I also watch a lot of Netflix, and when listening to dramas, the content and dialogue really come through clearly. That made it very easy to follow, which I appreciated.
What was your impression when you listened to your own music on the ACCENTUM Clip?
Since it barely feels like you're wearing anything, there was a real sense of the sound originating right there—right in front of me. By not blocking out ambient sounds, I really got that feeling of the audio playing right there in the space around me.
How does the ACCENTUM Clip feel to wear?
It feels incredibly good... To be honest, I was a bit skeptical at first. When I put it on—like this—I wondered, "Will it actually produce sound?" or "How well will I be able to hear it?" But once I actually listened, I was amazed at how clearly I could hear everything. I even tried cupping it in my palm like this to check for sound leakage—after all, it doesn't block the ear canal. I thought, "If I can hear the sound this clearly here, surely a lot of it is leaking out," but when I tested it, there was absolutely no leakage. I was really impressed.
If sound is completely blocked out, it can be difficult to use them outdoors, right?
Exactly. It can be scary walking at night or commuting if you're completely cut off from your surroundings. With these, you can still hear ambient sounds, which gives you a sense of security.
In what situations does the ACCENTUM Clip work well?
For instance, when commuting to school or taking a taxi—you know how sometimes a driver might suddenly speak to you, and if you’re wearing standard earphones, you can’t answer right away? But with this (the ACCENTUM Clip), I can hear the driver’s voice, so I found it really convenient.
So, it’s easy to use in daily life.
Exactly. It’s great for everyday use. There’s absolutely no feeling of pressure or discomfort while walking around the house. It’s nice that it’s stress-free. You know how, even if you’re wearing headphones, the first thing you do when you get home is take them off? Like, *sigh*... That doesn't happen with this. It felt so natural, I’d almost forget I was wearing it.
What do you think of the design?
The design? Isn't it super cute? Plus, it looks like I’m wearing a second earring alongside my actual one—at least in my case. It’s stylish and doesn't look out of place at all; I really like it. Like I said, you almost forget you have it on. Personally, I always take my earphones out when I go to a convenience store. Even if I could hear the cashier fine, it just feels a bit awkward, you know? It’s great not having to deal with that.
Let’s actually try making a call with the ACCENTUM Clip.
(After actually talking to a staff member) I can hear everything perfectly. It’s super clear! It feels so natural—almost like I’m not even wearing earphones. It’s actually better than talking like this (holding the smartphone up to the ear)! You know how calls on earphones sometimes have that muffled background noise? That’s not there at all. It really feels well-suited for calls. I guess it’s effectively cutting out the noise—especially the low-frequency stuff.
Shall we try listening to some different music with the ACCENTUM Clip?
(After trying a few tracks) The piano sounds amazing on this. I don’t usually listen to piano music, but it’s a perfect match. Wow! Can you hear the sound (leaking out) right now? Wait, you can’t? Even though it’s playing this loudly!? No way! (Laughs) Seriously? (Laughs) That’s incredible! So, it’s great for piano. This would be perfect for jazz or older recordings. The music I listened to at home (with the ACCENTUM Clip) was different, so I wish I’d tried a wider variety of songs. This is great! The sound is so delicate! It almost feels like listening to the piano in a concert hall. I think I might actually start loving piano music! It’s a whole new experience. It’s great to discover a new genre I might end up loving.
Who would you recommend this to?
People who listen to the radio or watch dramas, as well as those concerned about sound leakage or comfort. Also, pianists or people who really value lyrics. While headphones offer a sense of total immersion in the music, this product feels like it blends seamlessly into your daily life—letting you listen to music anytime, without any stress.