History
Melanie Adele Martinez (born April 28, 1995) is an American singer-songwriter, visual artist, and director known for her distinct conceptual pop sound and highly stylized aesthetic. Born in Astoria, Queens, and raised in Baldwin, New York, Martinez first gained national attention in 2012 as a contestant on the American television vocal competition The Voice. Her unique audition of Britney Spears's "Toxic" earned her a spot on the show, where she advanced to the Top 6 before her elimination.
Breakthrough and the Cry Baby Era
Following her departure from The Voice, Martinez shifted her focus to independent original material. After initially experimenting with different sounds, a pivotal 2013 studio session with production duo Kinetics & One Love resulted in the track "Dollhouse." This song established her signature dark-pop style and introduced the conceptual "Cry Baby" character that would define her early career.
Martinez subsequently signed with Atlantic Records and released her debut Dollhouse EP in 2014, featuring the title track and the single "Carousel." In 2015, she released her debut studio album, Cry Baby. The conceptual project was a massive commercial success, debuting at number six on the Billboard 200. It eventually achieved RIAA Platinum certification, with every track on the standard album earning individual RIAA certifications and accumulating billions of streams globally.
K-12 and Viral Resurgence
On September 6, 2019, Martinez released her highly anticipated second studio album, K-12. The ambitious project was accompanied by a 90-minute musical fantasy film written and directed by Martinez herself. The album spawned popular tracks such as "Show & Tell," "Nurse's Office," and "Strawberry Shortcake." She followed this release with the After School EP in September 2020.
That same year, her 2015 deep cut "Play Date" experienced a massive resurgence, going viral on TikTok. The trend propelled the track to new heights, making it one of her most-streamed songs across digital platforms and introducing her catalog to a new generation of listeners.
Portals and The Trilogy Tour
Martinez released her third studio album, PORTALS, on March 31, 2023. The album marked a major visual and sonic evolution, introducing a new mythical persona and debuting at number two on the Billboard 200. A deluxe edition followed shortly after, featuring the highly requested track "Milk of the Siren."
To support the album, she embarked on the PORTALS World Tour in 2023. In 2024, Martinez launched the highly successful Trilogy Tour across North America and Europe. This expansive arena tour celebrated the complete narrative arc of her three studio albums, cementing her status as one of the top-selling female touring artists of the year.
