Former bassist of Beach Fossils John Peña. The group's debut 7", Suday, cam… Read Full Bio ↴Former bassist of Beach Fossils John Peña. The group's debut 7", Suday, came out in October 2011 on Captured Tracks, followed shortly by the single Faithless. Their first full-length, Talent, appeared in July of 2012.

“PROMINENCE” is the 2nd full length in as many years from Texas transplant John Pena. It was recorded/mixed in the same apartment(after a failed attempt to mix in a “real” studio) as last years TALENT over the first few months of 2013 after shelving a full length’s worth of songs for not being sonically or emotionally interesting enough.

Using Primitive Radio God’s “Standing Outside A Broken Telephone Booth With Money In My Hand” as a sonic touch point John built a new album from the ground up utilizing chopped/sampled drum breaks and, for the first time, some non laptop based keyed instruments(piano, mellotron) along with H.B. main stays classical guitar and steel drums. Live member Christian Barsi and Daniel Schlett of Strange Weather Studio both contributed keys to a few songs but the outcome is still a very solo sounding project.

Arrangements is where PROMINENCE shines. Managing to sound inventive and not quite like anything else with such a limited palette is a rare and commendable feat. From the slide guitar and pulsing nylon string samples of “Honest” to the flamingo call and deep kick combo of the 2nd half of “Complete” Heavenly Beat keeps the whole affair sounding fresh, interesting and natural.

Lyrically, PROMINENCE is not an escapist affair. It’s a very direct look into someone dealing with poor body image(Thin), infidelity(Honest) and emotional/physical/sexual recklessness(Prominence). It’s not asking or answering any questions. Just existing within itself, fully a where of it’s shortcomings

Influence
Heavenly Beat Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

i cite you as my main influence
and all this time
it may have seemed
this work was born from just one mind
I've said it in the heat of the moment
also alone just tugging
joylessly all by myself
thinking of you

and you've been my main preference lately
all this time
it may have seemed
my patience would have thinned by now
but numbers on your shape and your distance
on paper come together making something
that i can't turn down
to cum into you
don't say it alone
and lose the right

hurting for days
just like you do

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Heavenly Beat's song Influence seem to be about the complexities of artistic creation and the various influences that contribute to it. The singer acknowledges that they have been influenced heavily by someone else, to the point where some might assume that the work they have produced is solely their own. However, the reality is more complex - the singer has struggled with working alone and has often thought of the person who inspires them while doing so. Furthermore, the singer's admiration for this person has only grown over time, despite the challenges they have faced in trying to create something.

The second half of the song seems to switch gears somewhat, with the singer expressing a desire to "cum into you" and a fear of losing the right to do so. This section is less clear in its meaning - it could be interpreted as a desire for creative collaboration or even a physical relationship, but it is difficult to say for sure. The repetition of the line "just like you do" at the end of the song adds an element of ambiguity - it is unclear what the singer is referring to when they say this, but it seems to suggest that there is some shared experience or emotion between them and the person they are addressing.

Overall, the lyrics to Influence are somewhat cryptic and open to interpretation. However, the themes of artistic influence, loneliness, and desire for connection all come through strongly.

Line by Line Meaning

i cite you as my main influence
I acknowledge you as the biggest inspiration for my work

and all this time
Over the course of a significant period

it may have seemed
It may have appeared or given the impression

this work was born from just one mind
This work was created by one person alone

I've said it in the heat of the moment
I have expressed this in a moment of strong emotion

also alone just tugging
Additionally, while being by myself and struggling

joylessly all by myself
Without pleasure or happiness, entirely on my own

thinking of you
Reflecting on you or having you in mind

and you've been my main preference lately
You are currently my top choice or favorite

my patience would have thinned by now
I would have become less patient at this point

but numbers on your shape and your distance
However, the figures representing your form and distance