Echoes of Home

This thesis examines how music functions as a cultural practice through which second-generation former Yugoslavian diaspora youth in the Netherlands construct their identities. While first-generation migrants often have direct lived experiences from their homeland, second-generation individuals relate to their heritage through cultural memory, everyday cultural practices, and digital platforms. Furthermore, although cultural identity among first-generation migrants has been studied, there is little academic attention to how second-generation youth engage with their cultural background, especially through music. This study thus addresses that gap by exploring how contemporary Balkan genres influence identity formation among the second-generation diaspora. Furthermore, the theoretical framework draws from cultural identity theory, diaspora studies, and digital media studies, which allows music to be understood as a symbolic tool for negotiation and belonging. These perspectives define identity as dynamic and shaped by both shared and personal experiences, and transnational flows. Moreover, this research will be conducted using a qualitative method. Data was collected through ten semi-structured interviews with second-generation diaspora who engage with contemporary Balkan music genres. Later, thematic analysis was used to interpret the participants' reflections and identify patterns across the data. The findings revealed that music serves several important functions: it offers an emotional connection to a symbolic homeland; provides space for performing hybrid identities; supports intergenerational cultural transmission, especially through language, and makes it possible to participate in transnational cultural communities via digital platforms like TikTok and Spotify. Instead of passively inheriting culture, participants use music to reinterpret their sense of belonging as personal to them. Their engagement illustrates a dynamic process of developing cultural ties in a digitally connected and globalized society. This thesis argues that music promotes more cultural continuity and connection while acting as an essential tool for negotiating the dual context of being both Dutch and Balkan. Lastly, this research contributes to academic debates on cultural identity formation, popular music research, and digital diaspora studies. It additionally has a broader societal impact by highlighting the need for acknowledging second-generation youth as actively involved in forming their identities; on their own terms and often through the everyday, emotional interaction with music.