la vie est un cadeau
journey
2009-2012
<< I need a club, I need a vibe, I need a mic ina me hand >>
Naâman, born Martin Mussard.
His stage name was drawn from a biblical story,
One about facing one's ego, and to eventually find healing.
Listening to reggae music, that is when I felt love freely expressed.
Life took me on a different path in spite of my curiosity for spiritual growth, and I discovered that I did not need any religion to have a talk with God
​
2009 marked the first online appearances with early tracks like Rise Up and High Basement emerging from initial studio work and early collaborations with Incut Prod.
In 2010, Naâman met the band Young Kha, a five-piece group he encountered by chance at a festival primarily dedicated to French chanson and gypsy jazz.
2011 was where things aligned.
Naâman met Fatbabs (selekta and beatmaker)
who brought a hip-hop touch to Naâman’s flow.
They produced a first track, Rumours a Gwaan
The same year saw the first Paris club show in July, intimate and uncompromising, where the music was tested live and the exchange with an audience became real.
Oh what a fever !
On March 8th 2012 the mixtape Deep Rockers, Official Skanking Shoes Seller dropped, celebrated with a release party in Paris.
On May 2nd came the first official Paris venue show at Scène Bastille.
That summer, the first appearance at Reggae Sunska stood as a true cornerstone, the moment the project stepped fully into the reggae circuit and the road ahead opened wide.
2013
<< only sky a di limit now >>
The year was divided between recording, rehearsing, and touring. Studio time increased. Live dates multiplied. Part of the year was spent recording in Jamaica at Harry J Studio, where material for his first album was finalised. Back in France, those recordings were taken straight to the stage. The same songs were played live, and refined in front of growing audiences.
On 4 June 2013, Deep Rockers, Back a Yard was released. Touring followed immediately, with concerts drawing consistent crowds as his name settled into the national reggae circuit. That year, he was named Révélation de l’année at the Victoires du Reggae.
I remember the first time i went to Trenchtown when i was 21.
We parked the car, put on some riddims real loud and i started freestyling with local artists in front of 30 youths that were amazed. I realized that no matter where you come from, if you have that fire inside of you, you are a part of reggae music
I got deep stories dem afi come true
like spend time to do me ting fine you know
Jamaica, 2013
2014
<< I'm a rebel for life >>
The year was marked by frequent live dates, including club shows, theatre concerts and festival appearances, as the project moved through different circuits and audiences. Touring expanded beyond France, with concerts across Europe and beyond.
Deep Rockers, Back a Yard was voted Album Reggae French Touch 2014, confirming the record’s impact beyond its initial release and reinforcing Naâman’s place within the contemporary French reggae scene.
The beginning of the iconic Scoopomètre
— Les Francofolies de La Rochelle.
I've been a regular skanker in this german reggae festival 7 years ago, i saw there some mad international artists and promise to myself to play on that big stage...
I was 17.
Mi neva know it take so long fi dreams to come true!
2015
<< Give thanks for being alive
'cause that feeling alright is a present from above >>
2015 was shaped by the release of Rays of Resistance. The album became the backbone of the live set, with songs like “Karma,” “My Days” and “Outta Road” circulating widely. Touring intensified across France and the European festival circuit, with performances at major events.
Alongside the concerts, 2015 was also marked by travel and immersion beyond the stage. Time spent in India and Jamaica fed into the personal and spiritual dimension of the album, reinforcing themes already present in the songs. In interviews and lyrics, Naâman spoke about gratitude, awareness and balance, approaching reggae as something lived day to day.
My new album matches exactly who I am. I’ve been travelling a lot since my first visit to Jamaica and my first experience in the studio. I’ve learnt a lot about myself, and for the first time we had enough time to produce it like we want it to be
2016
<< Stretch up my days >>
Live performance continued to structure the year. Shows and festival dates followed one another across Europe, with recurring appearances at events such as SummerJam and Reggae Sun Ska.
On 29 September 2016, Naâman played at L’Olympia in Paris. During the show, he introduced Skanking Shoes, later recalling,
When i wrote this song, i was far from believing i would sing it at Olympia.
This year saw the emergence of We All, a collective track gathering voices from artists and friends who followed him all the way. The song circulated alongside the live shows, echoing the sense of community present on stage.
2017
<< Experience’s worth more than gold >>
Naâman released Beyond, his third studio album. The record expanded his musical palette while keeping reggae at its core, with broader arrangements and a more open production approach. The album extended ideas already present in his work, allowing more space, variation, and melody to enter the songs.
Being independent makes it possible to let side projects that are close to our hearts flourish
He co-founded Big Scoop Records, his independent label, formalising a way of working that prioritised autonomy. The label gave Naâman and his close collaborators direct control over releases. This shift did not change the pace of his activity, but clarified how the music would be produced and shared going forward.
I want to tell the world that everyone has the full potential of love. There’s no need to be afraid when you know who you are
2018
<< i feel your soul >>
Performances from this year formed the backbone of A Live Story, capturing songs as they were lived on stage rather than fixed in the studio. Several key concerts from this period stand out, including sets at Rockpalast and SummerJam, alongside appearances at Esperanzah and major venues such as Zénith de Nantes and Le Trianon.
Let the real love flow
Like we never did before
Can’t hide it anymore
Eyes in the sky watching over us i’m sure
Cause you know, they said passion is our true selves in action. And what is higher than a true self ?
Rays of Resistance becomes golden
2019
<< Beyond everything love and faith shall remain forever >>
A memory pressed into sound. Built from concerts recorded over previous seasons, the album captured the music as it was lived on stage — extended versions, crowd exchanges, moments that only existed once.
We always put ourselves in cages, no matter what we say. And comes a time when the cage has to crack, even for few seconds, just for the heart to catch a glimpse of the bliss that some of us call Home.
We are seriously locked !
I know how to build a cage better than I know how to crack it down,
but for sure I'm getting better at it...
2020
<< I am living within creation, tell me what more is to gain >>
The creation process.
Locking yourself down in the studio trying to bridge the gap between a volatile idea and a finished song.
I don't know any better place to be
Nature shows humanity how to be at peace on this earth, it pushes us kindly toward balance. And only us have the choice to decline it, in a fool search for the ultimate proof, the ultimate experience that will speak for all. We are mostly learning through them what we are not. And one day, once the search has been dropped, we will realize that life has shaped us in the perfect way: We are now standing, without any obstacle in the river of consciousness. The Master says: the supreme action happens in the "non-action". That's the paradox we are in and it couldn't be more beautiful. This is our opportunity, give thanks always.
2021
<< No possible surrender
Time has come to rebel >>
Your own life is yours forever, and we all have a right to live it. We keep thinking with our own minds, keep questionning, and we're not afraid to think differently when the herd is afraid. Whatever you do for yourself, you do it for us all. So keep Love being the source of all decisions. Fear not.
2022
<< Joy all the way >>
Temple Road was released in March as his fourth studio album and conducted a major tour despite facing significant health challenges.
Later that year, the project reached a visible peak with a headline show at Zénith Paris – La Villette, where the songs were performed alongside close artist friends, and his wife joining him on stage.
La vie est un cadeau
2023
<< When the watеr get blurry, just let it settlе down
Finally bright as the sun
Soul plan >>
The Temple Road songs continued on stage throughout 2023 as Naâman brought his latest album to life across major venues.
Several dates placed Naâman on large stages, including high-profile sets at the Garorock Festival, No Logo BZH, and SunSka, where he performed alongside his Deep Rockers Crew. These massive appearances solidified his status as a reggae icon, blending high-energy riddims with deeply emotional reflections on his personal journey.
Musically, 2023 was marked by the release of new singles including Riot and Moneytree. During the same period, Naâman was invited to sing on Plus rien ne m’étonne,
joining the legendary Tiken Jah Fakoly for an acoustic version.
The collaboration brought two generations of reggae voices together.
Later that year, a live piano performance of House of Love circulated widely, capturing a quieter, stripped-back moment from his final major touring period.
On March 11, 2023, Naâman opened for Manu Chao in Goa, his second home. The performance was a spontaneous, last-minute event featuring a "locally brewed" band of musicians who came together quickly to support his set. The night ended with Naâman joining Manu Chao on stage for what he called an "unforgettable moment,"
performed in front of a packed crowd that included friends and family among the audience
I'm gonna raise this fire
2024
<< Nous dit la vie ne meurt que dans les livres >>
Naâman’s Temple Road journey reached a grand finale
The summer of 2024 saw Naâman embark on his final tour, gracing massive festival stages across France and Europe.
On March 2, 2024, he performed at HillTop, Goa. A long-awaited milestone where he finally brought his full band, The Deep Rockers Crew, to his second home after a decade of spending seasons in India. The performance was a vibrant celebration of his deep connection to the local community, serving as a "proper reggae show" for the place he loved most.
Merci ma ville, merci ma famille
A defining moment of this period was the surprise concert in Dieppe on July 23, 2024. Organised in record time by his friends in the "Deeptown" collective, Naâman performed on Place Saint-Rémy, drawing over a thousand people for a spontaneous gift to his beloved birth city.
As a tribute, the city of Dieppe officially renamed the location to Place Naâman, on February 23, 2025,
the spot where he gave his last performance.
Musically, 2024 was capped by the release of "Temple Road (Extended)" and the poignant single
"Mon Amour", which debuted on December 13, 2024.
Mon Amour stands as a testament to his philosophy that "life only dies in books," encapsulating his unwavering passion even in his final months.
