A Beacon School is the dream pop project of New York-based songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Patrick J. Smith. The songs on releases such as his 2018 full-length debut, Cola, alternate between uptempo, jangly pop nuggets and lush shoegaze. Smith began making music as A Beacon School in 2009. A home-recorded demo single was released in 2011, and a self-titled EP by a full-band lineup appeared near the end of 2012. The group played several shows in New York City and Connecticut, and worked on a full-length. Smith played with bands such as Modern Rivals and Bluffing, additionally working with Parquet Courts' Max Savage as part of Maxband. In 2018, A Beacon School's Cola was released by Grind Select. After receiving positive press and slowly gaining a worldwide following, an expanded vinyl edition of Cola was released in 2019. ~ Paul Simpson