Kevin Bronson on December 8th, 2018

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On their 2017 album “The World We Built,” the Wild Reeds’ harmony-laden folk-rock found a sweet spot — it was exuberant without being cloying, optimistic without being Pollyanna. This week, they announced that the follow-up, “Cheers,” would be out March 8 via Dualtone Records. Their third full-length, the album finds the band — singer-songwriters Kinsey Lee, Mackenzie Howe and Sharon Silva, along with drummer Nick Jones and bassist Nick Phakpiseth — wizened by the weight of world and personal events but somehow still hopeful.

“Cheers” harnesses the work of the three songwriters — the women each bring their songs to the band — and on this occasion they were allowed more room for experimentation. “It was a scary thing for us, because when you have three writers, you often have to do your best to tame your differences and come to some sort of agreement writing-wise, sonically, stylistically,” Howe says in the album announcement. “It was the first time we said, ‘Screw that, why don’t we just record the songs the way they should be done?’” Adds Silva: “For me, it felt no holds barred, limitless, like I could step up to the plate. The record feels very communal, and that’s part of the reason we called it ‘Cheers.’ It felt like, ‘Hey, we’re all in this together and we’re all focusing on what we’re getting better at.’ We could let go of what we’re supposed to sound like and all reach a higher potential.”

There’s a sweet, soulful sway in the first single, “Lose My Mind,” penned by Lee. “I wondered one day if I was to up and leave this life, who would I pick to stand in for me? Who knows my heart and my intentions the very best and who could draw the best picture of me?” she says. “‘Lose My Mind’ is about friendship, family and my best friend. When I am at my highest and lowest, he’s always been the one to remind me who I am and who I want to be.”

||| Stream: “Lose My Mind”

||| Live: The Wild Reeds host their ninth annual holiday show tonight at the Bootleg Theater, performing with Whispertown and Psychic Love. Tickets.

||| Previously: Live at the Teragram Ballroom, “Only Songs”