The War and Treaty Reflect on Grammy Nominations Despite Facing Doubts (Exclusive)
The War and Treaty, the resilient husband-wife duo of Michael and Tanya Trotter, triumphantly celebrate their first Grammy nominations in an inspiring exclusive interview Discover how they overcame numerous obstacles, proving that perseverance and talent can lead to well-deserved recognition
When the nominations for the 66th Annual Grammy Awards were announced in November, The War and Treaty were not anxiously awaiting to hear their name called – they were simply attempting to catch a plane.
"We had become accustomed to being consistently overlooked year after year, so we simply stopped paying attention," Michael Trotter Jr., one half of the soulful husband-wife duo, shared exclusively with We in a recent interview.
During a discussion about The War and Treaty’s partnership with George Dickel and the release of Dickel Bourbon Aged 18 Years, Michael shared how he and his wife and bandmate, Tanya Trotter (née Blount), found out about their two Grammy nominations. Sitting in the airport, Michael's phone suddenly started blowing up with congratulations, and after opening a message, he was overwhelmed with emotion and began to cry. He explained that the tears were not only a response to the joy of being nominated, but also a reaction to the humbling nature of the moment.
He explained that his tears were not just tears of joy, but a mixture of joy and the realization that he had been too self-centered, focusing on not being nominated in previous years. He had to check himself and understand that it's not about awards, accolades, or Grammys, but about being a servant. This nomination was the response to his servanthood.
The War and Treaty, a duo that formed in the mid-2010s, has redefined the possibilities of country and Americana music and expanded the diversity of those who create it. Their first major label album, Lover's Game, was released in March. The song "Blank Page" from the album received a Grammy nomination for Best Americana Roots Song, and the duo is also nominated for Best New Artist alongside Jelly Roll, Ice Spice, Gracie Abrams, Fred Again, Coco Jones, Noah Kahan, and Victoria Monét.
"Someone mentioned, 'You know what? The War and Treaty did something this year that deserves a special recognition,'" expressed Michael gratefully. "Being nominated alongside Jelly Roll is another testament in itself." Michael highlighted that both The War and Treaty and Jelly Roll are "both considered in the country music genre," but neither act fits the typical image of the genre. He sees this as a triumph in itself.
"This entire category of emerging artists is brimming with individuals who have overcome tremendous obstacles," he remarks. "Ice Spice, Coco Jones, and countless others are part of it. And Noah. So, I'm eagerly looking forward to the Grammys."
Michael and Tanya's warm and comforting voices made them the perfect choice to pair with George Dickel for the launch of the limited-edition Dickel Bourbon Aged 18 Years. The duo, The War and Treaty, performed at the historic Cascade Hollow Distilling Co. in Tennessee, even treating the audience to a preview of a new song from their upcoming album. Tanya, known for her role in Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit and her solo album, Natural Thing, described the evening as "wonderful."
“Cascade Hollow brings back memories of visiting my grandparents in the Carolinas and the family atmosphere there,” she shared with Us. “Tasting [Dickel Bourbon Aged 18 Years] for the first time was truly magical and we all enjoyed it.”
“It felt like we were gathering to celebrate something very unique and special,” Michael added. “I’ve always been a fan of the brand, but this particular tasting with Tanya before our performance got me really excited. I can see George Dickel Aged 18 Years being a part of many different phases of life and celebrations.”
He exclaimed, "Tanya looked stunning, as usual." The War and Treaty had a successful year, winning Duo/Group of the Year at the 2023 Americana Music Honors & Awards and receiving nominations at various other prestigious music awards.
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Amidst their impressive success, The War and Treaty remain grounded, thankful, and optimistic. "Life is a delicate balance," Tanya expressed to Us. "You have to learn to accept the good along with the bad. It may sound simple, but as a society, we tend to focus more on the negative because we spend too much time on the internet. Or we don't surround ourselves with positive people enough. Or perhaps we fail to celebrate every little victory. That's why we've committed ourselves to celebrate every milestone in our lives."
She elaborates on how philosophy reflects in the partnership with George Dickel. "It was crucial for us to emphasize that this is a celebration," she told Us. "This is George Dickel 18, it's limited. Not everyone can have it, you know. And that's a reflection of life because not everyone will understand why you're happy."
"Many people won't understand why you celebrate because they are so consumed by the complexities that life brings," Tanya added. "But life is a mixture of celebration and sadness, of birth and death, of happiness and despair. It's a constant endeavor to find balance, to be joyful and to cope with sadness. You can't always be happy, and you can't always be sad."
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Michael added that he has learned not to compare misfortunes. He emphasized that celebrating the victories and the times when we haven't given up is important. He also stressed the need to remind each other that there are wins, despite the losses. Michael concluded by emphasizing the importance of keeping “togetherness” in the forefront and always being reminded of the thriving spirit of humanity, which is something that we cannot afford to lose.
