Melanie Martinez and her Many Musical Identities
Image Courtesy: Wallpaper Cave
Melanie Martinez (She/They) is an insanely talented alternative pop artist who grew to fame through her appearance on a popular reality television show titled ‘The Voice.’ With only three albums, you’d be surprised of how strong of a fan base she possesses. This is not only due to her hard work, dedication, and her relationship with her fans, but also her genius lyrics and pure talent. Her three albums, Cry Baby, K-12, and Portals, all contain a strong lead “character” which is played by Melanie.
Cry Baby was her first album to be put out on August 15th, 2015. Her character, Crybaby, navigates life through songs which can be interpreted in a multitude of ways. A lot of themes have themes relating to early childhood and transitional age struggles with good rhythm and catchy lyricism. Some of my personal favorites, Teddy Bear, Soap, and Cry Baby contain fun word play, and it really shows her love for poetry which she accredits to her love for writing and creating music and art. It’s so inspiring to young artists who want to begin to pursue their dreams and are struggling to gain confidence
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The album Cry Baby contains a song called Dollhouse, which was the first to be released and gained extreme popularity in the US. This caused loads of new fans to begin to explore her fascinating music. I like to describe her music as off-putting in a good way, because while her lyrics hit home, they tend to be referencing things that are typically swept under the rug within society. Some examples of themes in her music are mental health, interpersonal drama, and coming of age struggles. Her lyricism is amazing, and so many of her songs are relatable and authentic. Her authenticity is crucial to her amazing connection with her fan base.
Image Courtesy: Alternative Press Magazine
Melanie Martinez stepped up her game with K-12, an interpretational album based on her highschool life and experiences. As Melanie continues her characters story, she begins to give her fans true insight into the stories she’s trying to tell by writing and directing a full length film, directly influenced by the album. The songs play through the video in order, explaining Crybaby’s screwed up life at a boarding school. The film is full of intricate costume and hair designs, which Melanie spearheaded. She talks about her perfectionism and you can see that quality through her art. The best part about K-12 (the film) is that it’s free on youtube! While other artists may have done this before, I'd consider Melanie a true trailblazer, not only for her movie-styled album, but also for her unique look and adorable personality which can be seen in many interviews.
Image Courtesy : Music Scene Media
Portals, Melanie’s third and most recent album broke the barriers on holding a strong fan base. In music, it’s hard for an artist to retain an audience when they change things or explore different styles. This is a huge risk in the industry, considering you could lose at least half based on pure dislike for the new theme. However, Melanie’s sheer talent and songwriting skills has helped her not only retain her following, but grow even more. Her new character is basically Crybaby in the middle of life and afterlife. Her character is a creepy-cute slime creature who writes about growing into yourself, growing out of who you once were, letting go of toxicity, and much more. Fans not only rave over her amazing performances since the debut leaks, but they also credit her for being so weird and off-putting. People who didn’t think they’d like her new stuff are now singing along in their cars on their way to work. Melanie Martinez is pure evidence that talent, authenticity, and drive is all it takes to become the best version of yourself. It’s amazing to see her grow, thrive, and gain confidence while performing, and I'm so excited for what’s next on her unique journey.
Strike Out,
Writer: Payton Raine Muscato
Editor: Racquel Gluckstern
Tallahassee