10 Years in the Making: Martone Scores Josie Music Awards Nomination
🎉 A Birthday Surprise to Remember 🎉
On June 23, 2025 — my birthday, no less — I received news that left me speechless:
The Evolution of Martone: 10th Anniversary Edition has officially been nominated for Album of the Year – Pop/Contemporary/Dance at the 2025 Josie Music Awards.
For those unfamiliar, the Josie Music Awards are not just another awards show. They are the largest independent music awards show in the world, held annually to honor the dedication, creativity, and authenticity of artists outside the mainstream machine. Being recognized by an institution that truly understands the grind of independent artistry is a profound honor — one that validates every late night, every risk, every beat, and every decision that went into this project.
When I created The Evolution of Martone, it was more than a compilation — it was a celebration of a journey. This album marked ten years of rhythm, reinvention, and resilience. It took the dancefloor anthems that brought me to this point and gave them new life through the hands of brilliant collaborators who understood the assignment and the legacy.
Let me take a moment to give flowers where they’re due — because this nomination would not be possible without the incredible creatives who stood beside me in this sonic rebirth:
🔥 DJ Extreme Detroit — the mind behind the iconic Deep Cacao Mix of “Chocolate.” Your remix didn’t just elevate the track — it transformed it. You brought a deep, textured sensuality to it that hit the soul as much as the speakers.
🎹 Michael E. Williams, II of Platinum Keyz Recordings — your production brilliance shaped this album with elegance and power. Every mix, every nuance you laid down gave these tracks a timeless edge. You understood the essence of what I was trying to convey — and delivered it with excellence.
🎧 Jordan 40 Plus Ford — a creative force who knows how to inject energy, precision, and emotional balance into every note. Your contributions brought layers and lift to this project that can’t be ignored.
📣 And to my publicist, Michael Stover — your belief in this project has never wavered. You’ve gone above and beyond to make sure this album reached ears and eyes across the globe. I’m proud to have you in my corner.
I also want to send deep appreciation to the DJs and tastemakers who have supported this album in clubs, on playlists, on internet radio, and in their sets. Your continued support keeps this music alive, night after night, crowd after crowd. You are the lifeline between the art and the audience, and I don’t take that for granted.
Releasing this album in 2024 was emotional. I revisited past chapters while preparing to write new ones. I had to sit with the early tracks that defined my sound and reimagine them through a lens of growth, experience, and transformation. What came out of that process is something I’m deeply proud of: an album that isn’t just nostalgic — it’s evolved.
To have The Evolution of Martone recognized by the Josie Music Awards — not as a commercial ploy or a greatest hits cash-in, but as a piece of work worthy of Album of the Year — that means everything.
So yes, this nomination is a full-circle moment.
Ten years ago, I stepped onto the scene with a message, a movement, and a beat. I’ve navigated reinvention, resilience, and real life. I’ve seen the industry shift, adapt, and at times try to shut out voices like mine. But I never stopped.
Today, I stand not just as an artist — but as an architect of sound, of self, of movement. And this nomination is a powerful reminder that staying true to who you are will always cut through the noise.
I invite you to stream TEOM: The Evolution of Martone: 10th Anniversary Edition — a labor of love, groove, and intention.
🎧 Apple Music:
https://music.apple.com/us/album/teom-the-evolution-of-martone-10th-anniversary-edition/1803813637
🎧 Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/album/1id1DW5dhAHvg8PH1dN9yl?si=hVvh4KR6QjKx51iaMQyP0g
Thank you to the Josie Music Awards for this honor.
Thank you to my team and my listeners for taking this ride with me.
Let’s keep evolving — the music, the movement, the message.
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#Martone10YearsStrong
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