(NASHVILLE, Tenn. — September 29, 2026) Nashville-based duo Burn the Treaty, made up of singer/songwriter Morgan Bracy and rocker Scott Carter, is carving out a sound entirely its own with a self-described blend of Americana, country, folk and rock they call “Spooky Roots.” Their single, “There Was a Time,” available now across all major streaming platforms, offers a compelling introduction to both the duo’s sound and the deeper philosophy behind their music. Listen here.
Written by Bracy and Carter, “There Was a Time” grew out of conversations about an increasingly disposable culture and how easily people, ideas, and experiences from the past can be dismissed as outdated. For Burn the Treaty, the song pushes against that mentality, recognizing that what came before us often forms the very foundation of who we become.
At the heart of the track is the striking lyric, “I’m a victory flag that knows how to lose,” capturing the contradictions that run throughout the song: triumph and disappointment, progress and nostalgia, holding on and letting go.
Producer Scott Gerow describes “There Was a Time” as “a dark, emotionally haunting Americana tune about life, change, and the strange beauty of being human.”
“Burn the Treaty captures their signature ‘spooky roots’ sound with haunting vocals, gritty instrumentation, and deeply melancholic storytelling,” Gerow adds. “A pulsing drum-and-bass groove, lonely rootsy acoustic guitars, and atmospheric keys create a world that feels both timeless and familiar—yet distinctly modern and unconventional.”
Recorded at Battery Lane Music and produced, engineered, and mixed by Gerow, “There Was a Time” features an accomplished group of Nashville musicians, including Brian Allen on bass, Billy Justineau on keyboards, Marcus Finnie on drums and percussion, and Gerow on guitars and banjo, with Bracy and Carter on vocals.
That balance between honoring what came before and refusing to be confined by it sits at the center of Burn the Treaty’s identity. The duo’s name itself represents the idea of breaking free from the unwritten “contracts” people accumulate throughout life—the expectations, stigmas, labels, and limitations they never consciously agreed to but nevertheless find themselves living under. For Bracy and Carter, “burn the treaty” means rejecting those limitations and pursuing the life and creative calling that feels authentic, regardless of outside expectations or internal doubts.
“There Was a Time” extends that philosophy by challenging the notion that something—or someone—loses value simply because the world has moved on to something newer.
The story behind Burn the Treaty is equally rooted in second chances. Both Bracy and Carter stepped away from music for extended periods before an unlikely meeting brought them back. Bracy had previously released two independent pop/country albums, Dirty Laundry and End of Cinderella, before major life changes led her away from performing and into the corporate world. Carter came from a rock background, performing with Chattanooga-based band Madfish Willy before taking his own hiatus from music.
Their paths crossed around a campfire in a secluded cabin community in North Carolina’s Nantahala National Forest. Invited separately to play music at the community’s annual gathering, Bracy and Carter met while performing across the fire from one another, trading songs from Tom Petty, The Lumineers, Van Halen and the Eagles alongside original material.
The musical connection eventually became a personal one. Carter moved to Nashville, the two married, and after finding their creative rhythm as writers, they formed Burn the Treaty.
Their debut EP, Sticks and Stones, produced by Mitch Dane (Jars of Clay, Blind Boys of Alabama) at Sputnik Sound, first established the duo’s genre-blurring approach, moving between folk, country, Americana, blues and rock while exploring gratitude, heartbreak, resilience and the complicated emotional terrain in between.
Burn the Treaty has since performed at venues including 3rd & Lindsley, The Bluebird Cafe, Riverfront Nights in Chattanooga, Marrowbone Brewery, Douglas Corner and True Music Room at Cambria Hotel Nashville, while continuing to release new music throughout 2026.
Looking ahead, Bracy and Carter plan to continue releasing singles through 2026 and 2027 while performing at select venues and house concerts throughout the Southeast. The duo is also preparing to return to the studio with Gerow in spring 2027 to record three additional singles and continues to pursue opportunities in film and television sync licensing.
“There Was a Time” is written by Morgan Bracy and Scott Carter and released through EWOFU Records, with distribution through DistroKid. Publishing is administered by Broken Pottery Publishing (ASCAP) and Bleekeye Music Publishing (ASCAP).
About Burn the Treaty: Burn the Treaty is the Nashville-based musical partnership of singer/songwriter Morgan Bracy and rocker Scott Carter. Blending folk, country, Americana, and rock into a sound the duo calls “Spooky Roots,” Burn the Treaty creates music rooted in raw emotion, atmospheric musicianship, and honest storytelling. The duo’s name reflects a shared philosophy of breaking free from the unwritten contracts, expectations, and limitations that can keep people from pursuing their authentic path. After spending years away from music, Bracy and Carter found each other and a renewed creative purpose, ultimately forming Burn the Treaty and releasing their debut EP, Sticks and Stones. Together, they continue to create music centered around resilience, change, gratitude, heartbreak, and the beautifully complicated experience of being human.
Connect with Burn the Treaty:
Facebook: facebook.com/BurnTheTreaty
Instagram: @burnthetreaty
YouTube: Burn the Treaty
Burn The Treaty – “There Was a Time” Cover Art
Burn the Treaty
Photo Credit: Drew Sherrod
Download Here Burn the Treaty
Photo Credit: Drew Sherrod