Melanie Martinez

Martinez later released her debut studio album, Cry Baby (2015), which went on to be certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).^[3] The album amassed numerous commercially successful singles including "Pity Party", "Soap" and "Mrs. Potato Head".^[4][5][6] She has since released two follow-up albums: K–12 (2019) and Portals (2023).


Easily recognized by her colorful two-toned hair and bangs, Martinez's visual style plays an important part in her music videos and performances. She came to fame cultivating a doll-like look complemented by babydoll dresses and emotional facial expressions. She likes to choose a theme for each album and tie all the music videos for the album together to create a greater narrative.

Early life[edit]

Melanie Adele Martinez was born on April 28, 1995, in Astoria, Queens, to parents Mery and Jose Martinez, who are of Dominican and Puerto Rican descent.^{[7][8][9][10][11][12]} Her family moved to Baldwin, New York, on Long Island, when Martinez was four.^[9]


Martinez attended Plaza Elementary School, crediting her teacher Mr. Nadien with teaching her how to sing,^[9] and in kindergarten, Martinez began writing poetry.^[13] Martinez says she had few friends growing up and was a homebody, as she was "very emotional" and found it difficult to explain her feelings, crying when overwhelmed.^[14] She practiced photography and painting.^[15] Due to her emotionality as a child,^[14] she says that others referred to her as a "cry baby", which sparked the creation of the titular character of her debut album, Cry Baby.^[16][17][18]


Martinez grew up in a "traditional Latin household" where she was made to feel shameful about talking about her sexuality and felt as if she would not be accepted if she came out as bisexual. She says that her family is now fully accepting of her sexuality.^[19]


At fourteen, Martinez taught herself how to play guitar by studying chord diagrams of songs she enjoyed, which she found online, and wrote her first song by adding her poetry to one of the chord diagrams,^[14][20] but says that playing guitar "eventually got stale".^{[15][17][18][21]} Martinez graduated from Baldwin High School.^[22][23]

Studio albums

Headlining


Supporting