Who Is Najm, And Why Does He Wear a Mask? The Artist Tells Us Himself

by Alexandra Mansilla

Who Is Najm, And Why Does He Wear a Mask? The Artist Tells Us Himself

26 Mar 2025

Who is Najm? He is an artist from Salé, Morocco, known for his spellbinding melodies, emotional lyrics, and distinct visual identity. His journey into music wasn’t easy — and he did it all on his own. He taught himself how to produce, write, and create. By 19, he already had several projects under his belt, including his EP SAV!OR. His track NDAM has racked up over 1 million streams and landed on Spotify’s Top 50 and viral charts in Morocco.

Recently, Spotify named him one of the featured artists on RADAR ARABIA — a programme that highlights and supports rising local talent.

Najm always wears a mask — but why? And what do his lyrics really mean? We sat down with him to find out.

— First, the question everyone is curious about — why do you wear a mask? What does your visual identity represent?

— For me, putting on a mask means that I want people to focus on my art, not on me. The way I live and express myself — I try to share that through my music rather than showing who I am personally. My music reflects what I live, what I do, and how I see the world. So, the mask is my way of saying: focus on the art. That is what matters most.

— You have loved music since you were a kid. Maybe you can take us back to that time — what kind of music were you listening to back then? What were you surrounded by? Were there friends or family who introduced you to certain sounds?

— When I was a kid, I listened to a lot of music — and a lot of different genres. We started with rap. I remember my brother was really into it — 50 Cent, Eminem, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg — that whole era. My sister, on the other hand, listened to Michael Jackson all the time.

I remember when I was about four years old, I was staying at home and started searching for music online. That is when I discovered rock music — and I completely fell in love with Kiss. They were my first rock obsession.

From there, I started listening to bands like the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and that opened the door to a whole mix of sounds that really shaped my taste early on.

— How did you decide that music was the path you wanted to follow? Did you study it somewhere, or was it something you learned on your own?

— When I was about seven, I joined a music class — and I failed. But honestly, at that age, I didn’t really understand what they were teaching us. So, I failed, and people thought I wouldn’t do anything in music.

But I didn’t stop. I kept learning on my own. I started watching tutorials on YouTube, taking online classes, and slowly teaching myself how to produce.

— Do you remember the very first track you ever created? What was it about?

— My first song was back in college. We had this Instagram group where people could post their freestyles. That is where I had my first experience with producing and sharing my own music.

It started just for fun — we used to joke around, freestyle, and clash with friends, talking about school, teachers, and random stuff. I think my very first song was actually about my history class. It wasn’t great, but it was fun — and that is what mattered.

— Was your journey to where you are now difficult? Did you face any challenges or people who doubted you? I am asking because in your song Lotsoflove, you say, “I came from the bottom,” and that really stood out to me.

— In my case, I had issues with my parents. They didn’t see my potential in music. They believed that studies were more important — that I should focus on something else, something more traditional. That is what I was dealing with.

In the song Lotsoflove, I talk about where I came from. I really came from nothing. I had to learn everything on my own — producing, writing, creating — no one gave me a hand or helped me along the way. That is the heart of the song: it is about love, but also about rising from the bottom and doing it all by myself.

— But why did you call it Lotsoflove?

— Because, in general, this song is about a past relationship — my ex and how I saw things from my side.

— Okay, I have to ask: does your ex-girlfriend know that Lotsoflove is about her?

— Haha, I think if she really focused on the lyrics, she would understand!

— So, now you are a superstar with 1 million streams on your track NDAM, right? Tell me everything about it — the story behind the song, what it is about, how it was created!

— The title of the song, "NDAM," translates to "Regret."

The idea came to me one night when I was feeling lonely and thinking a lot about what I should do with my life. The song is really about me — about everything my parents have told me and the pressure of making the right choices.

In the chorus, I say that I am choosing to follow my dreams, but I also admit that I am scared. I am afraid I will wake up one day and regret the path I took. That is really the core of the song — chasing something you love but not knowing if it is the right decision.

— So now you are featured in Spotify’s RADAR Arabia — how did that happen?

— One day, they reached out to me on Instagram and asked if we could hop on a call!

I already knew about Spotify RADAR — I had seen a lot of artists from countries like France and the U.S. take part in it. When I found out that Spotify RADAR was expanding to include Morocco, I thought it was amazing.

And when I learned that I was the first artist chosen from Morocco, that felt really good. It was a great moment!

— Do you think programs like this are helping Middle Eastern artists gain more global recognition?

— Absolutely, yes. From my experience, I have received a lot of messages from people in other countries who liked my songs. It really helps artists reach a wider audience.

— Let us go back to your music — specifically, your EP , which consists of seven songs. I’d love to dive into the story behind its creation. I am curious about everything: why these particular tracks, why the name SAV!OR, and what is the concept or idea behind it?

— The main idea behind it is that, in my opinion, Moroccan music has been going downhill lately. I feel like not many artists have been pushing boundaries or being truly creative with their sound these past few years. So, I came up with this concept of “saving” Moroccan music in my own way.

Across the seven tracks, I experimented with a lot of different sounds. There is some classic Arabic style, some new wave vibes inspired by artists like Travis Scott or Playboi Carti, and even some 2000s R&B — which you can hear clearly in the track Better For Us.

It is really a blend of genres, but all are rooted in a Moroccan touch. And lyrically, I just write about what I live — what I experience — and how I see the current state of Moroccan music.

— The official cover of SAV!OR features a knight with a sword and a castle. Is that knight meant to represent you?

— The knight concept is about a fighter — and yes, that knight is me. I was battling against people who couldn’t see my potential or recognise what I was capable of.

— This next question is about the sound of Morocco. If you had to describe your country through sound — whether it is music, nature, city noise, or everyday life — what does Morocco sound like to you?

— The first sound that usually comes to mind when I think of Salé is something sharp and intense.

But beyond that, if you go into the Medina, you will hear a different side — the sound of oud, violin, and street musicians. There are so many markets, so naturally, there is a lot of noise, a lot of life — it is chaotic but full of energy.

— On March 25, there was a billboard with you in Times Square. Wow!

— I can’t believe it. It is absolutely incredible.

Honestly, I can’t fully express what I feel. That is something I struggle with — putting emotions into words. But what I can say is that this is a huge step forward, both for me and for Moroccan music.

It means so much. And I really hope it inspires other upcoming artists in Morocco to push harder, aim higher, and believe that it is possible.

by Alexandra Mansilla