Melanie Martinez
When: 23rd September 2024
Location: OVO Hydro
Melanie Martinez is an inventive singer-songwriter known for her immersive storytelling. Coming to Glasgow’s OVO Hydro on 23rd September 2024.
Melanie Martinez is one of those rare artists who really commits to a concept, shape-shifting and all. You probably know her best by the “Cry Baby” character that defined her early career; sporting half-pink hair, adorned in doll’s dresses, maybe carrying a baby bottle. Check in on her now, and you’ll see her as a grotesque four-eyed naked alien creature — part Labyrinth, part Björk, all thrillingly weird. In the irreverent alt-pop that accompanies these alter-egos, she doesn’t slack either; throughout her discography, she unwaveringly confronts taboos amid gleefully catchy hooks.
Martinez rose to fame as a competitor on the third season of The Voice in 2012, aged 16. Coached by Adam Levine, she finished the competition in fifth place, with her versions of the White Stripes’ ‘Seven Nation Army’ and Alex Clare’s ‘Too Close’ both hitting the iTunes Top 10. In February 2014, she released her debut single ‘Dollhouse’, before signing to Atlantic Records and releasing an EP of the same name in April of that year. Her first US tour ensued that June, wrapping up in March 2015.
In 2015
In 2015, Martinez released her debut full-length album, Cry Baby. The album saw her use the Cry Baby character to explore themes of lost innocence and hidden darkness, whether in the allure of the perfect American family or in the façade of celebrity. Electronic alt-pop was infused with playful nursery-rhyme touches, while indelible singles like ‘Sippy Cup’ and ‘Pity Party’ demonstrated Martinez’s knack for a hook. Cry Baby has since been certified double-platinum. She followed it with an international headlining tour, including her first stint in Europe which culminated in an upgraded O2 Forum Kentish Town show.
In 2019, Martinez released her second album, K-12, along with an accompanying feature-length film. It saw her continue the story of the Cry Baby character, while touching on real-world issues from Donald Trump’s presidency to eating disorders and rape culture. She embarked on another international headlining tour from October 2019 to February 2020, when the COVID pandemic forced her to cancel remaining dates. During February 2020, she released the standalone single ‘Copy Cat’, featuring Tierra Whack. In September that year, she released the After School EP, a companion to K-12. In December 2020, she performed the CAN’T WAIT TILL I’M OUT OF K-12 livestream concert.
Moving into 2023
During March 2023, Martinez released her third album, Portals, which included the launch of her new alien alter-ego. Peaking at No.2 on the UK Albums Chart, the record sees her delve into themes of death, grief, rebirth and psychedelics, while retaining her dark-tinged electro-pop sound. She supported the album with a 29-date US tour beginning May 2023.
