One Half-Face at a Time: The Story Behind the My Continuum Cover
A Note from Kevin
In light of Wayne Harada’s recent and amusing blog post about someone asking why only half my face appears on the My Continuum EP cover (yep, that question actually came up!), my friend, producer, and singer-songwriter Lance Jyo felt it was time to share the real behind-the-scenes story. Authentic, creative — and heartwarming…thank you Lance for all the hard work and effort you poured into this project. You exceeded my expectations and calmed my anxieties throughout the nine months and continue to do so today. You are more than a producer to me, more like a lifelong friend.
BTS with Lance Jyo, Producer of My Continuum
For those who’ve been wondering why only half of Kevin’s face is on the cover of his new My Continuum EP, I’ll need to take you back to that very first meeting when Kevin asked me to join him on this deeply personal journey as his producer.
That fateful meeting took place at Zippy’s Makiki. After what seemed like hours, we knew that we had a special connection. Kevin shared that he had always harbored deep regrets leaving his music career 40 years ago as he did quietly and without fanfare. He expressed interest in doing a music project one day that he could dedicate to his friends, family and fans. Through the years, he carried the weight of that decision — the “what ifs,” the missed moments, and the deep love for music that never really left him.
Kevin shared that he was finally ready to do what he should’ve done long ago — make music again. He had chosen five songs from my catalog, each one holding a story that connected deeply with him. I didn’t fully understand it at first, but as we started working together, I understood why he chose each of these songs.
Now although he was excited, he also had real doubts. He shared that he was worried about how people would receive him after all these years. Would his friends, fans, and family still see him as the balladeer they remembered from the ’70s and ’80s? Would they compare his voice, his image, his age? Those questions weighed heavily on him. But he didn’t let them stop him.
For nine months, Kevin worked harder than I’ve ever seen anyone work. He re-trained his voice daily — like an athlete preparing for a comeback. And when he finally stepped behind the mic, it was like he never left. His voice was there — rich, powerful, emotional — maybe even stronger than before. Many who’ve heard the new recordings say the same: Kevin sounds better than ever.
When it came time to decide on the EP cover, those old insecurities crept back in. He wasn’t sure how he wanted to present himself visually. He didn’t want the focus to be entirely on his face and on the years that had passed. He wanted people to hear his music from the heart, not to focus on his image.
That’s when I suggested an idea: “Let’s just show half of your face.”
It wasn’t about hiding. It was symbolic, a reflection of his journey. Half represents the part of him that the world remembers, and the other half — unseen — represents the years of growth, reflection, and rediscovery that brought him back. Kevin agreed. It felt conceptually right. It was humble, mysterious, and powerful all at once.
So no, the other half of Kevin’s face isn’t missing because of acne — it’s missing because it tells a story. A story of a man who found his way back to the music he loves, and who now shares that journey — one song, and one half-face, at a time.
That’s the story behind the cover of the new Kevin I. My Continuum project.
— Lance Jyo My Continuum Producer, singer-songwriter
Hear the Music Behind the Story
Now that you know the story behind the cover, I invite you to listen to the music that inspired it.