Joseph Hudak
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The War and Treaty talk Nashville politics, new album, and Ray Charles' first country album: "Whether people like it or not, that album saved country music." Luke Rogers* The War and Treaty fully immersed themselves in the Nashville community when they recorded and released last year’s Plus One album.
“We wanted to make sure that Nashville knew that we weren’t hands-off: We’re here now, and we know there’s a Nashville way, but we also know that Nashville’s got something to offer, and we’ve got something to offer Nashville,” the War and Treaty’s Michael Trotter told Rolling Stone then, detailing how they played the Grand Ole Opry, toured all the country music museums, and collaborated with Music Row songwriters.
But the husband-and-wife duo say they didn’t get the return on their investment. “Absolutely not. Don’t ever do it. Any artist watching this, don’t you do that,” Tanya Trotter tells Rolling Stone’s Nashville Now podcast.
@rollingstonecountryTo promote their 2025 album, @The War and Treaty threw themselves into the Nashville industry machine and “played the game.” Today, the Grammy-nominated duo have a piece of advice for other artists: “Don’t ever do it.” Watch their full interview on @Rolling Stone Nashville Now on YouTube. #countrymusic #nashville #podcast #singer #fyp
♬ original sound – Rolling Stone Country
After dropping a pair of albums, including 2025’s Plus One, under the Universal Music Group Nashville umbrella, the War and Treaty released their new LP, The Story of Michael and Tanya, on Atlantic Outpost, Atlantic’s new Americana-leaning imprint (Charley Crockett reissued his indie album Clovis via the label earlier this month).
“The War and Treaty, in true nature, we are definitely one-million percent an Americana band. And the country music establishment latched on,” Michael says, running through a list of artists who have found success without indulging in Music Row rituals. “Tyler Childers, Charley Crockett, Sierra Ferrell — there is no reason why these artists should not always be named when you’re speaking of country.”
The Grammy-nominated duo say they’re done competing in anyone else’s game. “There’s always a game to play, but you don’t always have to play the game,” Michael says, adding that when it comes to recording songs for country radio, he looks to a north star: Ray Charles and the 1962 album Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music.
