Melanie Martinez

Martinez was born to Mery and Jose Martinez and was raised in a family of Dominican and Puerto Rican descent. Her family moved from Astoria, Queens, to Baldwin, New York, when she was four, and she has a brother named Joseph. She has described growing up in a traditional, conservative Latin household and has said that her family later became accepting of her bisexuality.

Martinez was in a relationship with fellow musician Oliver Tree from 2019 until their amicable split in June 2020. She has also spoken publicly about anxiety before performances and has used alternative methods to manage it.

Martinez began writing poetry in kindergarten and attended Plaza Elementary School, where her teacher Mr. Nadien encouraged her to sing. She taught herself guitar during her early teens by studying chord diagrams online and pairing them with her poetry to write songs. She also shared covers and original music on YouTube while developing her interests in photography and painting.

In 2012, Martinez auditioned for the third season of The Voice with Britney Spears's "Toxic." Adam Levine, CeeLo Green, and Blake Shelton turned their chairs, and she chose Levine as her coach. She advanced through the Battle and Knockout rounds, performing songs including Ellie Goulding's "Lights" and La Roux's "Bulletproof," before reaching the live rounds as a member of Team Adam. Her performances of "Seven Nation Army" and "Too Close" entered the top ten of the iTunes chart, but she was eliminated by audience vote in the show's fifth week.

After The Voice, Martinez spent much of 2013 writing original material. She released "Dollhouse" in February 2014, followed by the Dollhouse EP in May after signing with Atlantic Records. The EP also included "Carousel," which appeared in a trailer for American Horror Story: Freak Show and reached number nine on Billboard's Alternative Digital Songs chart.

Martinez released her debut studio album, Cry Baby, in August 2015. The album introduced Cry Baby, a fictionalized, fairy-tale-inspired version of herself whose stories drew on childhood experiences and difficult situations. Cry Baby debuted at number six on the Billboard 200 and included the singles "Pity Party," "Soap," and "Sippy Cup." Its songs and visual world established Martinez's recurring contrast between childlike imagery and darker subjects.

Martinez's second studio album, K, 12, was released in September 2019 as both an album and a soundtrack. It debuted at number three on the Billboard 200 and topped the US Top Alternative Albums and Top Soundtracks charts. The album was accompanied by a feature-length musical film that Martinez wrote and directed.

In addition to starring as Cry Baby, Martinez worked on the film's costumes and music. The film uses a surreal school setting to explore bullying, relationships, mental health, and other social issues. She promoted the project with the K, 12 Tour, which ended early in February 2020 after the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted its scheduled dates. The After School EP followed in September 2020, and "Copy Cat" featured rapper Tierra Whack, marking Martinez's first credited feature with another artist.

Martinez released Portals in March 2023. The album debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 and topped the Top Alternative Albums chart. Its singles "Death" and "Void" became Martinez's first original songs to appear on the Billboard Hot 100, while the music video for "Void" received a nomination for Best Visual Effects at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards.

Her visual style is marked by two-toned hair, bangs, babydoll-inspired clothing, and performances that combine colorful imagery with unsettling themes. She has described her music as dark and honest, incorporating hip-hop and trap-inspired beats with sounds associated with childhood, including toy instruments, music boxes, and baby pianos. In 2024, she brought songs from Cry Baby, K, 12, and Portals together on The Trilogy Tour, which included two sold-out nights at Madison Square Garden.

Martinez's fourth studio album, Hades, was released in March 2026 and introduced Circle, a new character associated with the fictional Hades Tech. The album was followed by Listening Chamber events and the announced Hades: The Sacrifice arena tour. Martinez has also directed many of her music videos, including videos for songs from Portals such as "Tunnel Vision," "Faerie Soirée," "Light Shower," "Spider Web," and "Leeches."