Nej'
{{Short description|French singer-songwriter blending pop, hip-hop, and R&B}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Nej'
| image =
| caption = Nej’ performing live in 2024
| background = solo_singer
| birth_name = Najoua Lamiri
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1993|6|30}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.nrj.fr/artistes/nej/biographie|title=NEJ' Biographie : naissance, parcours, famille…|website=NRJ.fr|access-date=27 April 2025|publication-date=2025-04-01}}
| birth_place = Toulouse, France
| occupation = Singer-songwriter
| years_active = 2016–present
| label = Miel noir
| website =
}}
Najoua Lamiri (born 30 June 1994), known professionally as Nej' (stylised in all-caps), is a French singer-songwriter. She rose to prominence in 2021 with her viral single Paro.
Early life
Career
Nej' began her musical career in 2016, releasing her early works independently.{{Cn|date=May 2025}} She gradually built an online following, gaining wider public attention with the success of Paro in 2021.{{Cn|date=May 2025}} She continued to release a series of successful EPs and full-length albums, with her 2023 album Athéna solidifying her presence in the French urban music landscape and expanding her reach to broader audiences both in France and internationally.{{Cn|date=May 2025}}
In 2023, Nej' launched the Athéna Tour, her first nationwide headlining concert series across major French cities.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sortiraparis.com/scenes/concerts/articles/283846-nej-en-concert-a-la-seine-musicale-en-novembre-2023|title=Nej' en concert à la Seine Musicale en novembre 2023|website=Sortir à Paris|access-date=19 April 2025}}
Musical style and influences
Nej's music is known for emotional storytelling, melodic hooks, and North African influences. She writes much of her own material, drawing on themes such as heartbreak, healing, and self-empowerment. Nej often blends French with Arabic phrases in her lyrics.{{Cite web|url=https://vl-media.fr/interview-nej-nous-parle-de-son-univers-et-de-son-nouveau-projet-athena/|title=Interview : Nej’ nous parle de son univers et de son projet " Athéna "|website=VL Media|date=17 March 2023|access-date=19 April 2025}}
Her musical inspirations include international R&B icons like Beyoncé and Alicia Keys, as well as French-speaking artists such as Zaho and Amel Bent.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nrj.fr/artistes/nej/biographie|title=Biographie de Nej’|website=NRJ|access-date=19 April 2025}} Her North African roots frequently influence her vocal stylings and lyrical themes.{{Cite web|url=https://www.raprnb.com/2022/06/24/nej-je-nai-jamais-renie-mes-origines-interview/|title=Nej’ : "Je n’ai jamais renié mes origines"|website=RAPRNB|date=24 June 2022|access-date=19 April 2025}}
Discography
= Studio albums =
- Enchantée (2019)
- Athéna (2023)
= EPs =
- SOS: Chapitre I (2021)
- SOS: Chapitre II (2022)
- SOS: Chapitre III (2022)
= Selected singles =
- "Ena Ena" (2017)
- "Paro" (2021)
- "Irréel - Intro" (2022)
- "Pourquoi pas" (2022)
- "Dernière fois" (2023)
- "Warda" (2023)
- "Mal lunée" (2025)