In the past few years, the uplifting husband-and-wife vocal duo theWar and Treatystarted showing up everywhere.
You co-wrote with Miranda Lambert for this album.
What was that like?Tanya:Shes really a genius.
Sophia Matinazad*
I dont think people know the magnitude of her as a vocal producer.
Michael:I was trying to get something done on my end, and I called her for advice.
I wanted to know what I should be expecting earlier on our journey with Universal, our label.
And shes like, Remember who you are!
Put your foot down.
Be who you are, and remember why they signed you.
I was like, Holy shit, yes, Miranda.
Thats not your end goal, but I thinkit is a goal.
Dont play into division, and there were people who were angry with me and Tanya about that.
They were like, Youre Black.
This is the moment where you should be pissed the fuck off.
So the first feeling I feel is hurt, not anger, when I see police brutality.
Hurt, not anger, when I see racial disparity or pain.
That dont make me a kumbaya guy.
I have to be careful with my anger, because my anger is something different.
Anger, for me, is fuel; it makes me look for an enemy.
And when I find the enemy, I am trained to seek and destroy.
I am not, and neither is my wife, kumbaya people.
This is our choice.
We choose to point people to a better America, and a better world.
This election, it felt like there was a calling to make a stand, and we did.
We want to be a bridge, and a beacon, and a balm for healing.
Theres a way to go through your career being a unifier rather than a divider.
Its been a serious self-check for me to say Im going to pursue peace at all costs.
I dont think you might, in a healthy way, stay in that toxic environment.
Some people thrive in that environment: Theyre looking for the fight.
Thats not who I am.
Michael:I differ, of course.
I feel like that message has gotten stronger in me.
I dont give any credence to the ignorant things that dont serve.
I pay attention to who is right in front of my face.
To me, thats healing.
