Careers in the creative industry are rarely ever linear. Full of highs and lows, trials and tribulations, and unexpected twists, adaptability and resourcefulness is required to sustain yourself in the long run. A rough terrain to navigate alone, being a cultural worker today often means honing more than one skill in order to shine and remain self-sufficient. Like so many others before her, Moroccan singer Najaa is among those who tried her hand at one discipline before setting her sights on another.
An up-and-coming actress with a string of credits to boot—starring as a lead in a few feature films, short movies, and music video, including in The Blaze’s Queens— the silver screen industry is no longer where the 25-year-old channels her energy anymore. Seeking an alternative way to recount stories, it is through music and not scripts that the Paris-based multihyphenate wants to offer a different yet equally intimate window into her world. With a debut EP, dubbed Diaspora, released in early 2025, her first sonic statement marks her introduction to a new scene the mononymous artist aims to establish herself in the long term.
“Music to me is an incredible space for freedom of expression and creation,” Najaa told MILLE “My goal is to touch people as sincerely as possible. There’s no specific message. The goal is just to do what I love, as honestly as possible,” she adds.
Riding a new wave of momentum, Najaa sat down with us for a quick Q&A about how she got her start in music and the role her Moroccan roots continue to play in shaping her sound.
Who is Najaa?
Najaa: That’s a very interesting question, one we rarely ask ourselves. I’m someone who is very positive and joyful. I don’t allow myself to be negative because it makes me too sad. I try to cultivate gratitude in my daily life; sometimes it’s hard. It’s a battle with oneself. I always try to pass that on, simply kindness. But I’m also someone who’s a bit wary of others because deep down, I believe we have to rely on ourselves to be happy.
What pushed you to pick up the mic and make music? Why did music speak to you more than anything else?
Najaa: I’ve always loved singing and being on stage for as long as I can remember. As I got older, it took me a while to take it seriously. Then one day, while watching live performances by Rosalia, I had a revelation. She inspired me so much that I told myself I wanted to do that too. The fact that music is created from energy— and energy doesn’t lie— gives music a deeply mystical side. It’s a powerful art form that touches hearts and blends poetry, performance, and even visuals. It can also bring people together. All of those elements are what draw me to it.
A lot of artists create stage names to draw a line between their personal and public selves—why did you decide to keep your real one?
Najaa: I totally understand the desire to separate your real identity from your public persona. It might feel like a way to protect yourself. I started out in the arts through film, where I had to embody characters. But when I began making music, I wanted to show my true self. My first project is called Diaspora, and I see it as a kind of ID card. I really opened up in that project.
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What role does your native Morocco play in your identity and music?
Najaa: It’s hard for me to describe my music in terms of genre, because I don’t see it as belonging to just one. It’s clearly the product of multiple influences; that’s why I don’t want to limit it, and I want to keep exploring styles. I grew up immersed in both Western music (mostly R&B) and Eastern music (Moroccan chaabi, khaliji, raï, etc.). All the choruses on my project are in Arabic. Arabic music is at the core of my artistic expression.
How would you describe your sound? How do you balance heritage and upbringing, and what makes your music distinct in style and emotion?
Najaa: My roots have always been there, I’m very proud of them. Singing in Moroccan Arabic wasn’t even something I thought about beforehand; it came naturally. I think it’s part of my DNA. The Arabic language is fascinating and really inspires me. I love speaking Arabic and listening to conversations when I’m in Morocco— even just hearing my mom talk on the phone in Moroccan captivates me. There’s so much humor and energy in it. It’s a language with a deeply spiritual dimension.
Diaspora, to me, is like a seed planted in an unfamiliar or even hostile environment— and yet it still manages to bloom. It represents the blending of influences and the need to build and create from the experience of being a child of immigrants.
2024 was a busy year which included the release of your debut EP, Diaspora. Why release a full body of work instead of building a listenership first like most artists?
Najaa: I really enjoyed making this project! I did consider releasing the tracks one by one. But I felt a sense of urgency to share my music— to introduce myself. Maybe it wasn’t the most strategic move, but I quickly came to see it as a complete work. A starting point that would allow me to grow creatively and explore other possibilities, especially collaborating with composers.
I worked on the songs for about a year and a half; except for Dolce Vita, which was originally an older demo from the first time I ever recorded in a studio a few years ago. Including it in the project made sense both symbolically and thematically. I often start with a persistent melody— it comes to me, and I feel particularly inspired by it. Usually, it’s the chorus. The beats also inspire me a lot to write or reinterpret previously written lines.
I’ve wanted to make and share music for a long time. I just couldn’t wait any longer.
Love is a recurring theme in your work. You also touch on exile and disillusionment— what draws you to these topics?
Najaa: Love is a huge source of inspiration. It’s at the heart of our lives. We give love every day— or at least I hope we do— and that’s important. Whether we’ve been let down by a relationship, lacked love, felt loved or unloved, devalued… we can’t deny love’s impact on our lives. It’s essential.
Exile and disillusionment are also part of my DNA. El ghorba (the feeling of exile) is a strong and unique sentiment that’s passed down like an inheritance. I’ve seen my grandmother and many family members suffer from it. It gives me a sense of pride and determination, but also a wound— like many people in Europe who share this history.
Your debut leans heavily into your Moroccan side, despite being born in France. Why is that?
Najaa: The theme of Diaspora fascinates me: being born in a country that isn’t yours, trying to adopt its codes as you grow, sometimes struggling to be recognized as legitimate, learning to reject the narratives imposed on you, and dealing with the pressure to “succeed.” These are all thoughts that live in me every day. There’s a social dimension to it, but also an undeniable cultural power, a creativity that comes from it is something I really identify with. I have cousins in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Italy. We all meet up in Morocco in the summers and feel that special bond; it’s Morocco that connects us, and the Arabic language. Without that, we’d struggle to understand each other. For me, that’s what Diaspora is: a connection, an incredible richness.
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Tell us about the cover art. What inspired it?
Najaa: For the cover, I was inspired by old ID photos of my grandmother. She was always very glamorous and put-together in those photos. I love what they convey. I imagined a big red stamp reading Diaspora/Ghorba. I worked with Léna Ichkhanian, who is an art director. She really developed the idea of the ID card concept around the photo which she took herself. I wanted the energy of it to feel imposing, almost defiant.
What message are you trying to convey through your music?
Najaa: Diaspora is mainly about going wherever you want, ignoring borders and that’s how I see music: it goes beyond us.
What can we look forward to next?
Najaa: I think I’ll explore different genres, keep singing in Arabic, give more importance to instruments, and get ready to perform live because I know I have a lot to give on stage.
The post From Screen to Sound: Is There Anything Moroccan Singer Najaa Can’t Do? appeared first on MILLE WORLD.
