Country soul duo The War and Treaty talk baptism by fire ahead of Knuckleheads gig – Kansas City Pitch

Report on The War and Treaty: Music as a Vehicle for Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

The country-soul duo, The War and Treaty, comprising Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Trotter, has demonstrated a significant career trajectory in 2025. Their work and personal histories strongly align with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those concerning peace, well-being, equality, and partnerships. This report analyzes their journey and musical output through the lens of the SDGs, highlighting their role as cultural ambassadors for positive change.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

The very name of the duo, “The War and Treaty,” directly reflects the principles of SDG 16, symbolizing the journey from conflict to resolution. This theme is rooted in Michael Trotter Jr.’s personal history.

• Experience with Conflict: Trotter is a U.S. Army veteran who served in Iraq. His experience of teaching himself piano in one of Saddam Hussein’s former palaces amidst the conflict underscores a search for peace and humanity in conditions of war.
• Healing from Trauma: Trotter’s diagnosis with PTSD and his subsequent journey toward healing are central to the group’s narrative. His wife, Tanya, is credited with reminding him that he is “not at war anymore,” leading to the band’s name, which represents their personal and collective journey toward peace.
• Music as a Tool for Peace: Their music serves as a platform to process the trauma of war and advocate for peace and understanding, transforming personal struggle into a public message of reconciliation.

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being & SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

The duo’s story is a testament to resilience, promoting messages of mental well-being and overcoming systemic barriers.

1. Mental Health Advocacy: Michael Trotter Jr.’s journey with PTSD highlights the importance of mental health support. Their music, particularly the album Healing Tide, provides an emotional outlet and a source of comfort for listeners, contributing to collective well-being.
2. Overcoming Adversity: Both members have faced significant challenges. Tanya Trotter experienced numerous professional setbacks in the music industry early in her career. Their joint success demonstrates resilience and challenges the inequalities within the industry.
3. Promoting Inclusivity: Their musical style, which blends genres traditionally separated by racial and cultural lines (country, soul, gospel, bluegrass), inherently challenges cultural segregation and promotes a more inclusive and equitable society.

SDG 5: Gender Equality & SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

The partnership between Michael and Tanya Trotter serves as a model for collaboration and equality, while their professional activities exemplify the power of partnerships in achieving common goals.

• Equal Partnership: The duo operates as a partnership of equals, with both members contributing their unique talents and experiences. This dynamic promotes a message of gender equality and mutual respect.
• Professional Collaborations: Their recent high-profile collaborations, such as performing with Zach Bryan and Sam Smith, demonstrate a commitment to SDG 17. These partnerships expand their reach and amplify their message of unity.
• Community Engagement: Performing at diverse venues, from the White House to WWE events, illustrates their ability to build bridges and engage with a wide cross-section of society, fostering a sense of shared community.

Future Outlook and Sustained Impact

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

The War and Treaty’s career demonstrates the potential for the arts to provide sustainable livelihoods and contribute to economic growth. Starting over in 2016, they have built a successful career that allows them to support their family while pursuing their artistic mission.

Global Outreach

With plans for UK and Canadian tours in 2026, the duo is poised to expand their international platform. This global expansion will further disseminate their message of peace, healing, and unity, continuing their alignment with the universal objectives of the Sustainable Development Goals.

SDGs Addressed in the Article

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  The article heavily revolves around the theme of conflict and peace. Michael Trotter Jr.’s experience as a soldier in the Iraq War, his reflections on losing “battle buddies,” and his subsequent diagnosis with PTSD directly connect to the consequences of armed conflict. The band’s name, “The War and Treaty,” explicitly symbolizes the journey from conflict (“the battle”) to resolution (“the peace afterwards”). This aligns with SDG 16’s aim to promote peaceful and inclusive societies.

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  This goal is addressed through the discussion of Michael Trotter Jr.’s mental health. The article explicitly states he was “diagnosed with PTSD” as a result of his time in the war. His journey of healing, supported by his wife and expressed through his music, highlights the importance of mental health and well-being, a key component of SDG 3.

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  The duo’s career trajectory illustrates the principles of SDG 8. The article describes their difficult start, where they “didn’t have any place to go” and were “literally just starting over.” Their subsequent success, where they are now “able to sustain a living” and are “happy doing what [they’re] doing,” exemplifies the achievement of decent work and economic stability through their creative and entrepreneurial efforts in the music industry.

• SDG 5: Gender Equality

  While a more subtle connection, the article touches upon issues relevant to SDG 5 through Tanya Trotter’s story. It mentions that Tanya “had so many chances that were snatched away from her when she was younger, in terms of the music industry.” This points to the existence of barriers and a lack of equal opportunities for women to fully participate in economic and public life, a central concern of SDG 5.

Specific SDG Targets Identified

1. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

   • Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.

     The article provides a personal perspective on the failure to meet this target. Michael’s experience in the Iraq War, where he witnessed the death of his “battle buddies,” is a direct consequence of violence and armed conflict. His story serves as a powerful reminder of the human cost of war.

2. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.

     The article’s explicit mention of Michael’s PTSD diagnosis directly relates to this target’s emphasis on promoting mental health. His story highlights the long-term mental health consequences of conflict and the importance of support systems and therapeutic outlets, such as music, in managing such conditions.

3. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

   • Target 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men… and equal pay for work of equal value.

     The War and Treaty’s journey from having “no place to go” to being “able to sustain a living” through their musical career is a direct example of achieving productive employment and decent work. Their success story embodies the spirit of this target.

4. SDG 5: Gender Equality

   • Target 5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life.

     Tanya’s past experiences of having opportunities “snatched away from her” in the music industry imply a lack of equal opportunity, which this target aims to rectify. Her current success as an equal partner in The War and Treaty demonstrates the positive outcome when women achieve full and effective participation.

Indicators for Measuring Progress

The article, being a qualitative interview, does not provide quantitative data but implies several qualitative indicators that can be used to understand progress towards the SDGs.

1. Indicator for SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions)

   • Implied Indicator: Personal testimonies and narratives of conflict survivors and veterans.

     Michael’s detailed account of his time in Iraq, his reflections on loss, and his ongoing journey with PTSD serve as a powerful qualitative indicator of the lasting human impact of violence, which official statistics on conflict-related deaths (Indicator 16.1.2) often cannot fully capture.

2. Indicator for SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being)

   • Implied Indicator: Prevalence of mental health conditions among populations affected by conflict.

     The article provides a specific case study—Michael’s PTSD diagnosis—that points to this indicator. His story underscores the need for mental health services for veterans and highlights how personal experiences can be used to measure the well-being of a community.

3. Indicator for SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth)

   • Implied Indicator: Rate of successful entrepreneurship in the creative and cultural sectors.

     The duo’s journey from economic hardship to establishing a sustainable career in music is a case study for this indicator. Their ability to “sustain a living” through their art demonstrates the creation of decent work within the creative economy.

4. Indicator for SDG 5 (Gender Equality)

   • Implied Indicator: Anecdotal evidence of barriers to women’s full economic participation.

     Tanya’s statement about having chances “snatched away” serves as an anecdotal data point. While not a formal statistic, collecting and analyzing such stories can provide insight into the systemic barriers that prevent women from achieving equal opportunities in certain industries.

Summary of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: thepitchkc.com