The Program (Deluxe) BRKN LOVE

• 1 20/20 Vision 03:47
• 2 Rear View Mirror 03:35
• 3 Diamonds 03:56
• 4 Cruel 03:39
• 5 Callous 03:29
• 6 Unholy 03:47
• 7 12 Wings 03:35
• 8 Pulling Leeches 03:26
• 9 Wisdom Teeth 03:50
• 10 Shades Of You 03:34
• 11 Break The Same 03:35
• 12 Shiver 03:47
• 13 Crooked Tongue 03:38
• 14 20/20 Vision (Live At Backroom Studios) 04:01
• 15 Pulling Leeches (Live At Backroom Studios) 04:01
• 16 Cruel (Live At Backroom Studios) 03:35
• Total Runtime 59:15

Info for The Program (Deluxe)

Exuding bravado, mystique, and a whole lot of heart, BRKN LOVE sets the rulebook on fire by plugging in, turning up, and churning out the kind of rock ‘n’ roll that makes you feel a little freer. Their gritty riffs pack enough punch to shake any stage while the grooves quake with just the right amount of hip-swinging gusto. Led by vocalist and guitarist Justin Benlolo, the music drips swagger, soul, and spirit amplified by arena-sized hooks and intriguingly inventive musicality.

An impromptu 2023 trip to visit a friend in Charleston, SC gave rise to their third studio album, 'The Program.' Justin initially planned on spending a weekend in town. That weekend turned into nine weeks, and he returned to Toronto with the bulk of the album’s material.

“I didn’t have anything else to do, so I brought all of my gear and studio equipment,” he recalls. “I was so inspired by the environment and the friends I made. It’s a big city, but it’s not huge. It’s just beautiful though. The experience inspired the whole record. Instead of being so picturesque and metaphorical, I told stories.”

The album title even referenced the name of the text group for his new friends in Charleston, embedding the experience and the city in the fabric of the music. The vision had already crystallized before he left for Los Angeles where he recorded with longtime producer Anton DeLost (Cleopatrick, The Warning, State Champs, Dead Poet Society). These friends, and a variety of other characters he met, ultimately inspired the concept at the heart of "The Program."

“It was a collective of 10 people I’d never met before, and we kept using the term ‘The Program’ repeatedly like, ‘Let’s go here, because it would be good for The Program’,” he goes on. “It was cool to be surrounded by near-complete strangers, invite them to our place, and play demos. Their opinions were unfiltered and blunt—which was awesome. I was actively searching for inspiration, and I put myself out there in different situations. I was free and unchained to do anything.”

BRKN LOVE fulfilled a clear destiny to be as free as possible on their third full-length album, 'The Program.'

“In the past, I put parameters on what BRKN LOVE is supposed to be,” Justin mentions. “I’ve been hesitant to put out certain songs because I was unsure if they were us. I’m older and wiser. I have more experience doing this. I know if I’m singing and writing a song, it’s going to be BRKN LOVE. I’m the filter the music passes through.”

BRKN LOVE

BRKN LOVE an alternative rock band, is about to begin its first Canadian tour this February after being hard at work recording their self-titled debut album. This Valentine’s Day, be prepared for emotional lyrics, powerful vocals, and goosebumps.

Lead vocalist Justin Benlolo wrote this album between the ages of 16 and 19, preparing for the day he would start a band and perform for people. From a young age, it became clear that he had a love for music.

“I started singing when I was young, just innately,” he siad. This led to joining school plays during his elementary years. “I started miraculously getting lead roles [in school plays], so I guess I could sing and stand out more than the other kids.”

The band Kiss sparked Justin’s initial interest in music.

“It was so powerful seeing [them] dress up that way, with the spectacles and the over-the-top characteristics, it was like seeing superheroes. And in every young person’s life, superheroes and fantasies are so important for their development.” This led to Justin’s initial experience in musical theatre. “Seeing Kiss [be my superhero] in a musical perspective was so inspiring to me… they mixed the superhero thing with the rock band.”

Later, at the age of eleven, Justin convinced his parents to buy his first guitar.

“I was always begging my parents to let me play the guitar,” The began his guitar journey with the help from his uncle. “My uncle was very, very good. You don’t need to learn how to read music or take lessons, that’s not an essential part of being a good musician. I developed a good ear and pretty much learned most of the stuff by listening, which comes as you play,” concluding that “if you want to be good at something, you just gotta give it the time.”

By the age of 16, Justin dropped out of high school to pursue a career in music. He moved to New York to learn, write and practice music. This time was a period of laying out the foundation for his future band, which led to the creation of the name Brkn Love.

“My manager and I made a list of my favorite albums and songs, and we kind of mixed and matched the front parts of some albums and the back words of some songs. Until we got to Brkn Love,” Although the process of the name was coincidental, Justin feels that the name resonates with his persona. “I didn’t have the band when I came up with the name, but it’s not about being incapable of love, but being afraid of being hurt by love, and it’s a lot of who I am.”

His musical journey between New York and Los Angeles led to expanding his network and meeting his band members. Once he found a drummer, bass player, and another guitarist, he was set. They began to record their first single, “Shot Down,” which was released in mid-March 2019. Since then, the journey has consisted of performing and recording the rest of their debut.

When asked about the future, Justin admits to being a little scared of what it holds for Brkn Love.

“Well, I think the stress comes from the strive for success; I just want to be successful. I want the band to do well and I want our hard work to pay off because we worked so hard on this project,” Benlolo further describes what success looks like for him and the band. “For me and the band to be successful is to have a dedicated crowd who want to listen to us play. If I can do this and sustain myself and everyone can live a good life, then that’s success to me. I just want to make a career out of this and be self-sustaining.”

Albeit, unaware of what the future holds for Benlolo and Brkn Love, he tries to keep a positive outlook.

“I don’t think there’s any reason to stress about anything, unless you really have to, which is easier said than done. It’s hard to predict what the future’s gonna hold or if you’re gonna amount to anything, and I’m sure there’s other stressors that don’t help with that. But you gotta take every day for what it is and be happy that you have this experience.”

This album contains no booklet.