Date of Graduation

5-2026

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Music (MM)

Degree Level

Graduate

Department

Music

Advisor/Mentor

Bentley, Christa

Committee Member

Hunter, Justin

Second Committee Member

Mihalka, Matthew

Keywords

Ethnomusicology; Lao American Studies; Lao Music; Lao Popular Music; Musicology

Abstract

For some time, Lao popular music has not received the same global recognition as other genres emerging out of Asia, such as K-Pop and Bollywood. In recent years, however, Lao-pop artists like Thinlamphone and Zamio P have broken onto the global stage, with music that showcases a unique blend of traditional Lao instrumentation with hip-hop, pop, and R&B styles. This emerging trend is particularly poignant for Lao Americans, as Lao-pop allows for Lao Americans to negotiate their experiences of being both Lao and American, further signifying its importance to constructing identity. This thesis explores the unique process of Lao Americans express their cultural identity through transnational music and performance and, in so doing, demonstrate that they are not confined to one idea of identity but rather construct it through multiple aspects of their life experiences. There is little scholarly literature on Lao Americans and Lao music in general, and the existing literature focuses on Lao music in the United States over 20–40 years ago (i.e. Terry E. Miller, Deborah Wong, and Adam Chapman). This thesis offers an examination of current Lao American experiences with popular music from both Laos and the United States to understand how and why Lao Americans view themselves as they do. Furthermore, by analyzing these Lao-pop artists and their stance to Lao identity and diaspora, I argue that Lao American identity construction challenges preconceived notions of Lao Americans losing their culture. Drawing from online media such as YouTube and Facebook, as well as from my own experience as a Lao American, I present a thesis that discusses the cultural nuances of what it means to be Lao through music.

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