This Is Our Jam: Heavenly Beat, “Messiah”

Beach Fossils bassist John Pena is no stranger to the sun-baked sounds of summer, but for his solo project, he moves from lo-fi bonfire to the cabana dancefloor. “Messiah” sounds exactly like you’d think it would coming from something called Heavenly Beat; sweetly crooned vocals float over disco strings and island rhythms, with just enough bounce to make it into an actual DJ set. The reverb-tinged guitars may be gone, but Pena seems to know where he belongs. Why leave the beach if you don’t have to?