Melanie Adele Martinez[1] (born April 28, 1995)[2] is an American singer-songwriter, actress, director, photographer and screenwriter. Born in Astoria, Queens, and raised in Baldwin, New York, she subsequently rose to prominence in 2012 after appearing on the American television vocal talent show The Voice. Following the show, she released her debut single titled "Dollhouse". Signing to Atlantic Records, she released her debut EP, also named Dollhouse (2014).
Martinez later released her debut studio album, Cry Baby (2015), which went on to be certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in February 2017.[3] Martinez's songs "Sippy Cup", "Mad Hatter", "Mrs. Potato Head", "Cry Baby",[4] "Pacify Her"[5] and "Soap",[6] all songs featured on Cry Baby, were all certified gold in the U.S., and her songs "Dollhouse"[7] and "Pity Party"[8] received platinum certification from the RIAA.
Martinez released her second studio album, K-12 (2019), alongside its accompanying film, as a follow up to the storyline of Cry Baby. The singer has been referred to as the "Emo-Pop Queen".[9]
Early life
Martinez was born in Astoria, Queens,[10] to parents Mery and Jose Martinez,[11] who are of Dominican and Puerto Rican descent.[12][13] Her family moved to Baldwin, New York, on Long Island, when Martinez was four.[10] She listened to Brandy, Britney Spears, Shakira, The Beatles, Tupac Shakur, Biggie Smalls and Christina Aguilera growing up,[14][15][16] and wanted to be a singer from a young age.[17]
Martinez attended Plaza Elementary School, crediting her teacher Mr. Nadien with teaching her how to sing,[10] and in kindergarten, Martinez began writing poetry.[18] 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.[19] She practiced photography and painting.[20] Due to her emotionality as a child,[19] 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.[21][22][23]
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.[24]
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,[19][25] but says that playing guitar "eventually got stale".[20][22][23][26] Martinez graduated from Baldwin High School.[27][28]