梅兰妮·马丁尼兹

Melanie Adele Martinez (born April 28, 1995) is an American singer-songwriter. Born in Astoria, Queens, and raised in Baldwin, New York, Martinez rose to fame in 2012 after appearing on season 3 of the American television talent show The Voice. Following the show, she was signed to Atlantic Records and released her debut single "Dollhouse", which was certificed 2× platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). It was followed by her debut extended play of the same name (2014).

In 2015, Martinez released her debut studio album, Cry Baby. Serving as the first part of Cry Baby trilogy, it met commercial success, certified double platinum by the RIAA and spawning RIAA platinum-certified songs like "Pity Party", "Soap", and "Play Date". The album peaked at number 6 on the US Billboard 200 and topped the US Top Alternative Albums chart.

K–12 was released as Martinez's second studio album and a soundtrack album in 2019; it was accompanied by the film of the same name. Reaching number 3 on the Billboard 200, it also peaked atop the Top Alternative Albums and Top Soundtracks charts. Portals (2023) followed, peaking at number 2 on the Billboard 200. Hades, a double album along with her fifth studio album Elysium, was released in 2026, debuting at number 3 in the United States. Martinez adopted a new character in the album, named Circle.

Known for 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 emotive facial expressions.

Early life

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. Her family moved to Baldwin, New York, on Long Island, when Martinez was four.

Martinez attended Plaza Elementary School, where her teacher Mr. Nadien taught her to sing. She began writing poetry in kindergarten and was a shy, emotional child with few friends, often crying when overwhelmed. She also practiced photography and painting. Her emotional nature led others to call her a "cry baby", which inspired the character of her debut studio album, Cry Baby.

Martinez grew up in a "traditional Latin household" that she described as "super-conservative" where she was made to feel shameful about her sexuality, feeling 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.

At fourteen, Martinez's family could not afford guitar lessons, so she taught herself how to play guitar by studying chord diagrams of songs she enjoyed, which she found online. She wrote her first songs by pairing her poetry with the chord diagrams and began sharing music on her YouTube channel, but says that playing guitar "eventually got stale". Martinez graduated from Baldwin High School.