The War and Treaty

Last updated
The War and Treaty
TheWarAndTreaty 2021.png
Tanya and Michael, 2021
Background information
Origin Albion, Michigan, US
Genres
Years active2014–present
Labels
Members
Website thewarandtreaty.com

The War and Treaty are an American husband and wife duo consisting of singer-songwriters Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Trotter. [1] [2] Their debut studio album Healing Tide (2018), received critical acclaim upon its release. Soon afterwards, they released their sophomore album Hearts Town (2020), which featured a collaboration with American singer Emmylou Harris, and spawned the Triple A top 40 hit single "Five More Minutes". [3] In 2022, they signed to UMG Nashville, and released their major label debut Lover's Game (2023). Their collaboration with Zach Bryan on the song "Hey Driver" reached the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Contents

In 2023, The War and Treaty became the first black duo to be nominated for the Country Music Association Award for Duo of the Year; [4] along with being the first black duo to be nominated for the Academy of Country Music Award for Duo of the Year. [5] They have received two nominations for the 66th Annual Grammy Awards, including Best New Artist. An upcoming biopic based on the group’s life is set to be released. [6] [7]

Career

In 2016, Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Blount released the duet album Love Affair as Trotter & Blount. [8] In 2017, The War and Treaty released the EP Down to the River, described as a mix of 'blues, gospel, soul, bluegrass, country' and heralded by Estey as 'a splendidly made immediate classic about conflict and redemption'. [9] [10] Yet the two can sensually help heal the wounds from those confessional blasts with a sweet ballad like "Till The Mornin’" — they truly live up to the dynamic tension of their moniker.' [10]

In 2018, Rolling Stone reported The War and Treaty's debut album Healing Tide is due for release on August 10, 2018, describing the lead single as a 'joyfully relentless title track, reminiscent of classic Ike and Tina Turner rock-infused soul'. [11]

On September 25, 2020, The War and Treaty released their sophomore studio album, Hearts Town, on Rounder Records. On April 18, 2021 they joined Dierks Bentley for a performance of U2's "Pride (In the Name of Love)" for the 56th Academy of Country Music Awards. [12]

The group signed a major label deal with Universal Music Group Nashville in May 2022. [13] They performed a cover of "It's Only Rock 'n Roll (But I Like It)" alongside Brothers Osborne at the 56th Annual Country Music Association Awards on November 9, 2022 and surprise-released their second EP Blank Page on the same day. [14] Their major label debut album Lover's Game , was released on March 10, 2023.

The duo collaborated with American country star Zach Bryan on the track "Hey Driver" from his self-titled fourth studio album. The song debuted at number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 marking the duo's first appearance on the chart. [15]

Discography

Studio albums

List of albums, with selected chart positions
TitleAlbum details [16] [17] Peak chart positions
US
Curr.
Sales

[18]
US
Heat.

[19]
US
Indie

[20]
Love Affair [21]
(as Trotter & Blount)
Healing Tide [22]
  • Released: August 10, 2018
  • Label: Strong World Entertainment (marketed and distributed by Thirty Tigers)
  • Format: LP, CD, Digital download [23]
1126
Hearts Town [24] 70
Lover's Game
  • Released: March 10, 2023
  • Label: UMG Nashville
  • Format: LP, CD, Digital download
56

EPs

List of EPs
TitleAlbum details
Down to the River [26]
  • Released: October 19, 2017
  • Label: Strong World Entertainment
  • Format: Digital download
Blank Page [27]

Singles

As a lead artist

List of singles with selected chart positions, sales figures and certifications
Title [17] YearChart positionsAlbum
US
Triple A

[28]
"Hi Ho" [29] 2016Down to the River
"Healing Tide" [30] [11] 2018Healing Tide
"Are You Ready to Love Me?" [31]
"Jealousy / Hustlin'" [32] 2020Hearts Town
"We Are One" [33] [34] Charity single
"Five More Minutes" [35] 22Hearts Town
"Everything New (Sessions)"
(with John Mark McMillan) [36]
2021Non-album single
"That's How Love Is Made" [37] 2022Lover's Game
"Lover's Game" [38]
"A Sunday Kind of Love" [39] 2023TBA
"Stretch Out" [40]
"Cold"
(Live from The Academy of Country Music Honors) [41]
Non-album single
"Called You By Your Name"2024TBA
List of singles with selected chart positions, sales figures and certifications
Title [17] YearChart positionsAlbum
US
Triple A

[28]
"America the Beautiful"
(Kristin Wilkinson and Matt Rollings featuring Trisha Yearwood, Keb' Mo', Amy Grant & The War and Treaty) [42]
2021Non-album singles
"The Times They Are a-Changin'"
(Nitty Gritty Dirt Band featuring Rosanne Cash, Steve Earle, Jason Isbell & The War and Treaty) [43]
"Chuck-will's-widow" (Video Mix)
(Amy Ray featuring The War and Treaty & Michelle Malone) [44]

Other charted songs

List of singles with selected chart positions, sales figures and certifications
Title [17] YearPeak chart positionsCertificationsAlbum
US
[45]
AUS
[46]
CAN
[47]
IRE
[48]
WW
[49]
"Hey Driver" [50]
( Zach Bryan featuring The War and Treaty)
202314 [upper-alpha 1] 142933 Zach Bryan

Guest appearances

List of non-single guest appearances, with other performing artists, showing year released and album name
TitleYearOther artist(s)AlbumRef.
"It's Only Rock 'n Roll (But I Like It)"2023 Brothers Osborne Stoned Cold Country [53]
"Hey Driver" Zach Bryan Zach Bryan [50]
"From a Distance" More than a Whisper: Celebrating the Music of Nanci Griffith [54]

Awards and nominations

YearCeremonyNominated WorkCategoryResultRef.
2019 Americana Music Honors & Awards The War and TreatyEmerging Artist of the YearWon
2020 Folk Alliance International Artist of the YearWon
2021Pop AwardsBand/Group of the YearNominated [55] [56]
Americana Music Honors & Awards Duo/Group of the YearNominated
2022Won
2023 CMT Music Awards "That's How Love is Made"Duo/Group Video of the YearNominated [57]
Academy of Country Music Awards The War and TreatyVocal Duo of the YearNominated
Americana Music Honors & Awards Duo/Group of the YearWon
Country Music Association Awards Vocal Duo of the Year Nominated
Grammy Awards Best New Artist Nominated [58]
"Blank Page" Best American Roots Song Nominated

Notes

  1. "Hey Driver" did not enter the ARIA Top 100 Singles Chart, but peaked at number 20 on the ARIA Top 20 New Music Singles Chart. [46]

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