That blessed summer day of 2016, when music streaming platforms finally became available to people from the Balkans, life permanently changed for the average Balkan indie music enjoyer. Overnight, enthusiasts were given the ability to deep dive into the vast sea of previously unheard music of countless genres. As Spotify and Deezer listenerships increased, alternative and indie artists which were long-established in Western charts slowly started to gain traction in the Balkans. Household alt and indie names, ranging from Tame Impala and Arctic Monkeys to Lana del Rey, became integral parts of people’s playlists. Streaming services did more than change the Balkan music taste. They changed music made in the Balkans. The new sounds inspired several up-and-coming artists, some of whom are featured below. Moreover, for the first time, music of similar genres was easy to discover, organize and enjoy. Such exposure was invaluable for alt and indie musicians from the peninsula and several bands and artists started kicking off.

What was amazing about these sounds, organically produced in small bedrooms in post-socialist apartment blocks, was the diversity. A listener did not need to look far for good home-made Balkan trap or indie rock. Lovers of all genres could now name not only their favorite Western, but also their favorite local artists.

If you are getting tired of your old playlist and want songs to show off your unique music taste, look no further. Below is a list of some of the most established and exciting new artists of the Balkans, as well as the story of their origins, cultural importance and song meaning.

Svemirko (derived from the word ‘svemir’ which means universe) is arguably the most culturally relevant indie collective of the Balkans. Originally from Croatia, this one-man-writes-and-produces-everything-but-they-are-somehow-still-a-band phenomen released their first album Vanilija (Vanilla) in 2017. Since then, this self proclaimed emo-macho, avantgard, yet somehow normal collective has released two more albums. They are best known for their second album Tunguzija (no direct translation, but something along the lines of far away or imaginary land), which recently, following a special campaign, managed to sell over 500 vinyls. While the number of vinyls might not appear as a good indication of a band’s success, in the case of yugonostalgic, indie-enthusiastic, money-saving Balkans, it most certainly is. ‘Odgovoran ljubavnik (Responsible lover)’ is the last track on Tunguzija. The simple lyrics, followed by the catchy tune, talks about a particular type of young love. The type of love that makes you wonder what you ought to do when you really like somebody, but you just do not know how to make the relationship happen.

In 2016, a 2-man-band from a small town in Serbia released a 10 track album, which introduced a fresh take on the indie rock sound to the Balkan scene. Buč Kesidi’s first album Posesivno-ospulsivni hospul stood out for its candid lyricism. The quick, catchy songs on this album usually reflect that angsty feeling one gets when they turn 19 - the feeling that you are old enough to not be awkward about some things, yet you somehow still are. The themes of love, heartbreak and the parties and hangouts one should have just skipped persist in the lyrics of their second album. The sound of Euforija, however, is much different. Melancholy drags down the sounds of the electric guitar and the drums, which dominate the album. This album brought Buč Kesidi to stardom. Postcovid, they toured the whole of former Yugoslavia, managing to sell out many venues. They are currently working on their third album, the sound of which one can expect to be different from any of their older tracks. Current indicators of the new Buč Kesidi era is the 2022 single ‘Curimo po asfaltu’ which suggests the band found inspiration in the sounds of the 80s.

If your ultimate goal as a music enjoyer is to love a band before anybody else has listened to them, čuvarkuća (houseleek) is for you. Having released their first album just 4 months ago, čuvarkuća is one of the latest additions to the Croatian music scene. KSET (electrical engineering student club) based in Zagreb, Croatia, recommends čuvarkuća for all the fans of psychedelic and lo-fi sound. The three songs they performed are described as the ‘bermuda triangle of love jeremiads’, perfect for all those who cannot resist a good love song.

Witty lyrics and catchy melodies best describe 18++, the solo album of the Croatian artist under the pseudonym z++. Zvonimir, who came up with the name z++ by combining the first letter of his name with the name of the programming language C++, turned from a locally appreciated artist, to the establisher of a whole new wave. He says that 18++ grew out of its singles, guided by Z’s desire to create a conceptual album. It is hard to classify z++’s work into a genre - he describes his music as underground pop, but the sounds would equally suit lovers of rap, trap and indie.

‘Svjetski, a naš’ (worldly, but ours) is the best way to describe the Croatian bedroom indie pop musician Fran Vasilic. During the 2020 lockdown, Fran gained a lot of traction on TikTok, with his account now having over four million followers. Fran's musical work is completely in English and explores topics ranging from lockdown anxiety and heartbreak, to family love. While his 2020 album Retrovizor is loved by many listeners in Southeast Asia, particularly India and Thailand, Fran is relatively unknown in the local music scene. Last summer, he performed as the opening act of a local summer festival and is currently planning a second Euro tour.

While the Slovenian electro-pop music duo Zalagasper (deriving from the duo’s names Zala and Gasper) immediately sparked interest in the Slovenian music scene, it was not until their 2019 Eurovision performance that the Balkans heard of them. Their performance of the original song “Sebi ([to] yourself)” stood out from all other entries for its beautifully melancholic sound. Their 2022 album Love Letter is a collection of songs both in English and Slovenian. Zalagasper describes this album as a ‘stack of mail’ with stories ranging from love letters, letters to late grandmas, retellings of road trips, cloud watching and sailing hats. No lover of authentic sounds and raw lyrics should miss out on Zalagasper’s work.