TroyTrackSelect, CEO of the local music video and Q&A series Select Few Sessions, wants to be known as a local legend. He could be on the cusp to achieve that goal as the face behind The Naptones, a new awards ceremony that celebrates local musicians and their contributions.
The black-tie show — with a full red carpet — starts at 7 p.m. March 22 at P30, 3039 N. Post Road. Tickets are $10. Nominated artists will not perform but there will be a house band. Troy will emcee the event.
“We like to call ourselves a music city because we are a music city. This is an opportunity for us to protect, prolong and preserve the musical history of Indiana,” he said in an email. “If we want other people to celebrate us, we must celebrate ourselves first. This is our time to do that.”
He said he hopes The Naptones increases competition among artists in the state by growing their fanbase and incentivizing the artists to release more music throughout the year. Over 60 singers, rappers, songwriters and bands submitted music released in 2023 and 2024 for consideration.
A committee of five people in the Indianapolis arts community voted on the winners in 13 categories. A total of 13 awards will be presented.
Six genres including rap, folk and EDM are represented in the nominations as well as in the Album of the Year and Single of the Year categories. Indy-based rock band River Thief and rapper Rome Herbert lead the pack tied at three nominations.
Check out the full list of nominees below.
Album of the Year
Akili Ni Mali, “Changes”
Rome Herbert, “NOTHING BUSINESS, IT’S JUST PERSONAL”
Slum Baby Family, “Family First Vol. 1”
Single of the Year
Dead Silence, “Vanilla Bean”
Li Sizzer, “Do Better”
rebel noire and the accomplices, “Awestruck”
Best R&B Album
Akili Ni Mali, “Changes”
rebel noire and the accomplices, “LOVELOVE”
Tavonne, “Euphoric”
Best R&B Single
Mel Noelle, “OTL”
Milligan, “The Movies”
Tavonne, “Higher”
Best Rap Album
4200Kory, “Old Soul Vol. 2”
Rome Herbert, “NOTHING BUSINESS, IT’S JUST PERSONAL”
Slum Baby Family, “Family Business Vol. 1”
Best Rap Single
Dead Silence, “Vanilla Bean”
HeyZeus, “EndZone”
Rome Herbert, “Ashy”
Best Pop/EDM Album
Obilque, “You’ll Know It When It Happens”
Ross Collins, “Ross Is Lost”
Zap Black, “EYES”
Best Pop/EDM Single
Indigo Muze, “LIKE ME”
Ross Collins, “Happy Hour”
Spring Term, “Pellegrino”
Best Jazz Single
rebel noire and the accomplices, “Awestruck”
Patrick Meister, “A Love That Never Ceases”
Best Rock Album
Mr. Clit and the Pink Cigarettes, “Cutest Hag in the Swamp”
River Thief, “21 Grams”
Sonia, “Interconnected Fate”
Best Rock Single
River Thief, “Earth Humming”
Skaaholics, “Mr. Popo”
The Matriarch, “K!”
Best Folk Album
Forgotten Tribe, “Naptown Be Wise”
Shiny Shiny Black, “Reverberations”
Best Folk Single
Forgotten Tribe, “Give Thanks”
Katalina, “Living Water”
Shiny Shiny Black, “Reverie”
Mirror Indy reporter Mesgana Waiss covers arts and culture. Contact her at 317-667-2643 or mesgana.waiss@mirrorindy.org.
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