Cinders just might be America’s most uplifting band. Over the course of two albums and a third in progress, the Salt Lake City trio has refined their rowdy acoustic pop towards a leaner indie sheen, while never losing their signature sense of warm, all-in-this-together nostalgia and mega- melodic audio adventure.

Released on Feb. 26, rousing new single “Growing Up” hints that Cinders’ next full-length, No One’s Home, due in August, will be a crafted romp through disarming vulnerability, relatable lyricism, and world-class songcraft. Plus, of course, the infectious sense of feel-good fun that’s been a throughline of their six-year career.

Comprising three best buds – Montana Smith (vocals/guitar), Adrian De La Cruz (bass), and Brad Bennett (drums) – Cinders is out to conquer the world one irresistible tune at a time, befriending everyone they meet along the way. Their live shows are uniquely inclusive, interactive celebrations that lovingly blur the lines between performer and listener.

Cinders’ 2016 eponymous debut album was an instantly lovable, effortlessly danceable rush of acoustic guitar-driven indie-folk. Released later that same year, the Acoustics, Vol. 1 EP spawned surprise mini-hit “Unhinged.” Their 2018 sophomore album, Looking Forward to Looking Back, marked an organic evolution of Cinders’ boisterous sound shaped by countless live shows all over the U.S. and abroad.

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Inspired by the likes of The Front Bottoms, Grouplove, and Twenty One Pilots, Looking Forward expanded Cinders’ sonic palette while embracing some darker lyrical themes. Yet the record retained their charmingly wide-eyed and unrelentingly optimistic spirit.

Pensive, ultra-dynamic second single “Afternoon” displays just how far Cinders has come on No One’s Home, while the percussive “Eyes Half Open” suggests an increased curiosity to experiment outside of comfort zones and expectations. As always, this new Cinders material connects through Smith’s alternately intimate and intense vocal delivery, offset by euphoric unison chants that are hard not to join.

With its addictive “bah-dah-bah-bah-dah-bah” hook and poignant close harmonies, “Growing Up” is a refreshingly frank exploration of the self-doubts of adulthood. It ushers in a new Cinders album that’ll be the perfect post-pandemic tonic and (as soon as conditions allow) a springboard for more tireless touring full of smiles, sing-alongs, and a band-audience chemistry that far transcends just beats, chords, voices and words.