Naaz

Naaz Mohammed (born 8 June 1998), known professionally as Naaz, is a Dutch-Kurdish singer. Born and raised in the Netherlands, she initially gained media attention after she auditioned for Holland's Got Talent in 2014.

Early life Naaz Mohammed was born in Gorinchem, but moved to Rotterdam when she was two. Her parents fled Iraqi Kurdistan during the Gulf War; She was bullied in school but found comfort in the words of one of her teachers. A car accident in which her parents were wounded was a turning point in her life and that of her parents; before, music was a "no-go" for them and she had to abide by a strict dress code, but after the accident, the family was more open with and accepting of each other. On 30 September 2016, she released her first solo song, "Sadboy". Naaz created the songs on Bits of Naaz in her room, using a computer, a microphone, and a keyboard. On 18 August 2017, Naaz released her second single, "Can't". A music video for the song came out a week later. On 13 October 2017, she released her third single, "Up to Something". On 25 October 2017, Naaz performed "Words" on Vevo DSCVR. On 12 February 2018, Naaz released her fourth single, "Loving Love". The single entered the Dutch Singles Tip and peaked at #30. Bits of Naaz debuted and peaked at #81 in the Netherlands, and its success led to her to play at Rock Werchter and various European countries; she received two Edison Awards for the EP. Naaz joined Hayley Kiyoko on her European Encore Tour.

2019-present: The Beautiful Struggle and Never Have I Ever Naaz continues to make waves in the music industry with her compelling storytelling and poignant lyricism. Her latest era marks a significant evolution in her artistic journey, showcasing her unique voice and the diverse influences that shape her music. On 14 June 2019, Naaz released the first single, "Taped", for her second EP, the beautiful struggle, and the second single, "damage", in September 2019, which she said was a song about "emotionally damaged DNA". On 27 September 2019, Naaz released the song "it's not you it's me". On 4 October 2019, Naaz released her sophomore EP, the beautiful struggle.

Naaz joined Melanie Martinez on her K-12 tour in 2020. She went on her own headline tour promote her EP. On 10 July 2020, Naaz released the single "Mute Love". On 31 May 2022, Naaz released the single "Sad Violins", her first in two years.

In January 2023, Naaz released her highly anticipated album Never Have I Ever, which dives deep into her experiences as a Kurdish-Dutch woman. The album has been celebrated for its raw vulnerability, with two singles released: "Azadi" and "Daughter." "Azadi," meaning "freedom" in Kurdish, explores themes of liberation and identity, while "Daughter" reflects on the complexities of familial relationships, offering an intimate glimpse into her personal life.

In 2023, she released two non-album singles: "Banara" and "Uproot." The latter addresses the harrowing realities faced by victims of domestic abuse and sex work. In the fall of 2024, Naaz continued her artistic journey with the release of her new single, "Sirens."

Awards and nominations Naaz has won two Edison Awards, a Dutch music award, and was nominated in two categories of the XITE Awards in 2017.

In January 2020, Naaz won two awards at the Music Moves Europe Talent Awards, a music awards ceremony funded by the European Union.

Discography Studio albums Title Details Peak chart positions NL Never Have I Ever Released: 11 January 2023 Label: Bits of Naaz Formats: streaming, digital download —

Extended plays Title Details Peak chart positions NL Bits of Naaz Released: 20 April 2018 Label: Top Notch Music BV Formats: streaming, digital download 82 The Beautiful Struggle Released: 4 October 2019 Label: Top Notch Music BV Formats: streaming, digital download —

Singles As lead artist +List of singles, with selected chart positions Title Year Peak chart positions Album "Sadboy" 2016 — "Words" 2017 10 Bits of Naaz "Can't" — "Up to Something" 9 "Loving Love" 2018 11 "Taped" 2019 — The Beautiful Struggle "Damage" — "It's Not You It's Me — "Mute Love" 2020 — "Sad Violins" 2022 — Never Have I Ever "Azadî" — "Daughter" — "Barana" 2023 — "Uproot" — "Sirens" 2024 — TBA"—" denotes a single that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Other charted songs +List of other charted songs, with selected chart positions Title Year Peak chart positions Album NLDTip "As Fun" 2018 13 Bits of Naaz

Artistry Naaz has listed Linkin Park, Lorde, and Tove Lo as musical inspirations.