Some artists dream of having their names called to accept an award for their music. Amber and Nate Butler know this feeling all too well.
The married couple are frontwoman and frontman of Shiny Shiny Black, a folk band based in Goshen, Ind. They got to experience the feeling of accepting an award at The Naptones last year, when their song “Reverie” won Folk Single of the Year and their album “Reverberations” won Folk Album of the Year.
If you go
The 2026 Naptones
🗓️ 4 p.m. Sunday, March 29
📍 Phoenix Theatre Cultural Centre, 705 N. Illinois St.
🎟️ $15.18
The Naptones is an annual award ceremony founded by Troy Track Select to celebrate Indiana-based musicians. Guests can attend the black-tie show — with a full red carpet — at 4 p.m. March 29 at Phoenix Theatre Cultural Centre. Tickets are $15.18.
The show’s listening committee received 99 submissions. A total of 45 singers, rappers, songwriters and bands will compete for 16 awards, including Album of the Year and Single of the Year.
Being recognized by your peers does mean something more, according to the Butlers. In the case of Shiny Shiny Black, being award winners has made it easier to book more gigs.
“It feels like it gets people’s attention more so in another way,” Nate Butler said. “Like The Naptones really helps the artists who are in it to have credibility with the rest of the industry.”
This year, Shiny Shiny Black picked up three nominations for their holiday EP, “What Stops Time.” But they said they’re a little more intimidated by the stiff competition in the folk categories.
“I am friends with almost everybody that’s in the category. You want everybody to win. I think (Bobcat Opossum X Debutants ) are awesome … I actually produced their first record,” Nate Butler said. “Honestly, I would be happy to lose, because they’re so good. It’s just exciting to see your friends and be a part of the music community in another way.”
Faith and family
First-time Naptones nominee Lauren “LayLo” Seymour has been making music since she was in middle school. She began to release solo music in 2022 after moving back to Indianapolis from California, where she had pursued art school.
During that time, she said, music saved her life. She was grieving the death of a family member and a breakup when she turned to music and created her first EP, “The Experience,” with help from producers Ross Collins and Knutt.
In 2025, she released her EP “2:19,” which was nominated for R&B Album of the Year at The Naptones. It’s the first time LayLo’s been nominated for anything.
“Being nominated means a lot to me … winning on March 29 would mean the world and a cherry on top to celebrate closing that chapter of LayLo,” she said.
The project’s title directly references the bible verse, 1 Peter 2:19. The North Central High School graduate said the EP delves into her faith and relationship with family. Her 7-year-old son, Jaxx Alvarez, is featured on the project as well.
Indianafication not Californication
Another first-time nominee at The Naptones is the punk rock band deadfoot. Their song “Indianafication” is nominated for Rock/Punk/Metal Single of the Year. Nick Weber, founder and bassist of the band, said it is actually a diss track about the state. And you guessed it, the song title references the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “Californication.”
“It’s about how Indiana kind of sucks. It’s not the greatest place in the world, but there’s still charm and stuff here. But it’s mostly just trashing the state,” he said jokingly.
The formation of deadfoot was organic. Weber said he was inspired to make a project during the COVID-19 pandemic at the same time he learned he was going to be a dad. He recruited a few people to join him along the way, and it evolved into a punk rock band.
This isn’t the first time deadfoot has been nominated for an award. Weber said they won the founder’s award at Punk Rock Night in 2024. Weber, who’s been in the music scene for 20 years, views the band’s nomination at The Naptones as another way to recognize the local musical talent in the city.
“There’s not as much of an industry here, so it’s harder to make a living from your art. It’s cool that there are people here who are trying to uplift the arts and recognize local talent,” he said. “If it were a just world, so many more artists would blow up out of Indianapolis because of how much talent there is.”
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Mirror Indy reporter Mesgana Waiss covers arts and culture. Contact her at 317-667-2643 or mesgana.waiss@mirrorindy.org.
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