The War and Treaty

For the past decade, soulful duo The War And Treaty — husband-and-wife team Michael and Tanya Trotter — have released music that has taken them beyond beloved industry favorites to stages worldwide with widespread acclaim and standing ovations. Their new project reflects continued creative growth twelve years after their founding.

Collaborators on the album include:
- Whoopi Goldberg (spoken word intro for “Litty”)
- Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds (writer of “You Can’t Hurt Me Anymore”)
- Wynonna Judd (guest on “Reclaim All Of Your Time”)
- Valerie June (guest on “Reclaim All Of Your Time”)

The duo grew up listening to classic country and Memphis soul records. That background informs songs like “Reclaim All Of Your Time,” where styles blend with Tanya’s gospel-soul delivery. Michael originally envisioned that folksy, female-empowerment ballad as a conversational piece with layered harmonies.

They revisit honky-tonk–meets–juke-joint storytelling on songs such as “Darlene and Gene,” a dusty soul number, and connect multiple generations of soul on “Holy Ghost Fire.” “Holy Ghost Fire” pairs a lifelong desire of Michael’s to sing a love-and-heartbreak song with a domestic-violence–survival perspective Tanya has endured to vocalize; the song’s tension and urgency carry through the performance.

Quotes from the duo:
- “We’re finally performing material that shows people how, beyond being mature and intentional, how sanctified and sexual we can be,” Tanya Trotter says. “For Michael and me, it’s important to show the combination of rawness and sweetness that underlies our soulful sound.”

• “It’s a privilege to be Tanya’s husband,” Michael Trotter says. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to witness every aspect of her life. It lets me see her power in humanity and spirit in ways most people never will.”

• “The power of language is that it can peacefully balance emotions,” Tanya Trotter says. “However, for many generations, even when the conversations don’t use words, it’s always been important (first and foremost), not to question where an emotion is coming from, but instead understand the context (that created them),” Michael adds.

Blank Page consists of 19-year-old high school sweethearts Jack Robert and Avery Grace from Maryland. They are pursuing a degree in commercial songwriting at MTSU while playing shows across the country. Their sound blends country with influences from Americana, soul, rock, and R&B. Avery is noted for powerful vocals; Jack is a multi-instrumentalist and baritone. They write their own songs and aim to make audiences feel something.

Highlights and recognition for Blank Page mentioned here include:
- Over 150k streams across platforms in under 3 years
- 6 Josie Music Award nominations
- 8 Wammie Award nominations
- 2 ISSA nominations
- A CPMA nomination
- Recognition from Unsigned Only two years in a row
- World Entertainment Award win for Best Duo
- More than 300k views on social media
- Performances on Good Day PA, BCPS TV, and at WMZQ Fest
- Featured as the cover story for Monkton Living in May 2025 about a sold-out headlining show
- Radio play and interviews on Froggy 107.7, 93.1 WPOC, 103.7 WMZQ, and Bob 94.9
- Over 200 shows, including three sold-out headlining shows, and opening slots for artists such as Kane Brown, Shaboozey, Maddie & Tae, Drew Baldridge, Ashley Cooke, Ingrid Andress, Chris Lane, George Birge, Chase Matthew, and Devon Gilfillian

The duo name Blank Page comes from lyrics by The War And Treaty. The Americana Music Award–winning duo have invited Blank Page onstage several times and asked them to record background vocals for “High Heels” from The War And Treaty’s 2026 record, The Story of Michael and Tanya.

Jordan Babbs is a singer, songwriter, actress, and performer who grew up in a musical family as the daughter of R&B artist Tank. She attended New York City’s Professional Performing Arts High School and Howard University, and has appeared at Lincoln Center, in film, in songwriting rooms, recording studios, and on stages across the country. She has worked with writers and producers including Tank and Rico Love, appeared in BET films, and contributed the song “Can I Spend Christmas With You” to So Fly Christmas. Her cover of Muni Long’s “Hrs & Hrs” has reached more than two million views.

Jordan is joining The War & Treaty on tour and preparing to introduce audiences to her original work. For Jordan, this moment isn’t simply about being heard. It’s about having something to say. Her story is just beginning.