History of Melanie Martinez in Timeline
Melanie Adele Martinez is an American singer and songwriter who gained fame after competing in season 3 of The Voice in 2012. Born in Astoria, Queens, and raised in Baldwin, New York, Martinez signed with Atlantic Records post-show. She released her debut single 'Dollhouse' and an extended play of the same name in 2014.
April 28, 1995: Birth of Melanie Martinez
Melanie Adele Martinez was born on April 28, 1995, in Astoria, Queens, New York. She was raised in Baldwin, New York.
1996: Iconic Hair Dye Inspired by Cruella de Vil
In 1996, at age sixteen, Melanie Martinez dyed half of her hair blonde after watching 101 Dalmatians. This look, inspired by Cruella de Vil, became a hallmark of her image.
2012: Rise to Fame on The Voice
In 2012, Melanie Martinez rose to fame by appearing on season 3 of the American television talent show The Voice. This marked the beginning of her career in the music industry.
2012: Participation in MSG Varsity Talent Show
In 2012, during her junior year of high school, Martinez participated in the MSG Varsity Talent Show, singing renditions of songs by Barrett Strong and the Four Tops. She was eliminated in the second round.
2013: Dedicated Year to Writing Original Material
In 2013, after her appearance on The Voice, Martinez spent the majority of the year writing original material, marking a period of intense creativity and development in her music career.
February 9, 2014: Release of Debut Single "Dollhouse"
On February 9, 2014, Melanie Martinez released her debut single, "Dollhouse." The song's story was compared to Edward Scissorhands, and its music video was fan-funded through Indiegogo.
April 7, 2014: Signed to Atlantic Records
On April 7, 2014, Melanie Martinez signed a deal with Atlantic Records, a significant milestone in her music career.
May 19, 2014: Release of Debut EP Dollhouse
On May 19, 2014, Martinez released her debut extended play (EP), Dollhouse. The EP featured the single "Carousel," which reached number nine on the Alternative Digital Songs chart and was certified gold by the RIAA.
June 2014: Start of Dollhouse Tour
In June 2014, Melanie Martinez embarked on the Dollhouse Tour to promote her debut EP. The tour lasted until March 2015.
2014: Debut Single and EP Release
In 2014, Melanie Martinez released her debut single "Dollhouse" and followed it up with an extended play of the same name. This was a significant step in her music career.
March 2015: Conclusion of Dollhouse Tour
In March 2015, the Dollhouse Tour, which started in June 2014, concluded. The tour helped Martinez promote her debut EP and gain a larger fanbase.
June 1, 2015: Release of Single "Pity Party"
On June 1, 2015, Melanie Martinez released the single "Pity Party," which sampled Lesley Gore's "It's My Party." This was one of the singles from her debut album Cry Baby.
August 14, 2015: Release of Debut Album Cry Baby
On August 14, 2015, Martinez released her debut album, Cry Baby. The album received moderate critical acclaim and debuted at number 6 on the Billboard 200. It was certified Platinum by the RIAA on February 24, 2017.
August 17, 2015: Release of Cry Baby Lipstick
On August 17, 2015, Melanie Martinez collaborated with cosmetics company Lime Crime, Inc. to release a blue lipstick called "Cry Baby."
December 2015: Release of Single "Gingerbread Man" on SoundCloud
In December 2015, Martinez initially released her Christmas-themed single "Gingerbread Man" on SoundCloud. The song later became part of her EP releases.
2015: Release of Debut Studio Album
Martinez released her debut studio album, Cry Baby, in 2015. The album was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and included successful singles like "Pity Party" and "Soap".
January 2016: Release of "Gingerbread Man" as Solo Single
In January 2016, Melanie Martinez released "Gingerbread Man" as a solo single, following its initial release on SoundCloud in December 2015.
March 9, 2016: Release of Teddy Bear Lipstick
On March 9, 2016, Martinez released a brown lipstick called "Teddy Bear," in collaboration with cosmetics company Lime Crime, Inc.
May 2016: Release of Pity Party EP
In May 2016, Melanie Martinez released her second EP, Pity Party, exclusively in Ireland, Mexico, and the UK. This continued to build her international presence.
October 2016: Release of Cry Baby Perfume Milk
In October 2016, Martinez released a commercial for her fragrance, Cry Baby Perfume Milk. It was distributed directly by her record label, Atlantic, making them the first record label to distribute a fragrance.
November 2016: Release of Cry Baby's Extra Clutter EP
In November 2016, Martinez released her third EP, Cry Baby's Extra Clutter, which included a physical vinyl release of bonus tracks from Cry Baby and the single "Gingerbread Man."
February 24, 2017: Cry Baby Album Certified Platinum
On February 24, 2017, Melanie Martinez's debut album Cry Baby was certified Platinum by the RIAA, marking a significant achievement in her career.
December 4, 2017: Timothy Heller's Allegations
On December 4, 2017, Timothy Heller accused Melanie Martinez of sexual assault and rape via Twitter, which led to significant public attention and controversy.
December 9, 2017: Martinez's Response to Allegations
On December 9, 2017, Melanie Martinez released a second statement addressing Timothy Heller's accusations, thanking her fans for their support and stating that she would never engage in intimacy without consent.
December 2017: Allegations of Sexual Assault
In December 2017, Melanie Martinez was accused of sexual assault by her former friend, Timothy Heller, via Twitter. Martinez strongly denied the allegations, asserting that any intimacy was consensual.
December 22, 2017: Release of Song "Piggyback"
On December 22, 2017, Melanie Martinez released the song "Piggyback" on SoundCloud. The song is believed to reflect on allegations made by her former friend, Timothy Heller.
May 15, 2019: Teaser Trailer for K–12 Album
On May 15, 2019, Melanie Martinez released a teaser trailer for her second album, K–12, building anticipation for its release.
September 6, 2019: Release of K–12 Album
On September 6, 2019, Melanie Martinez released her second album, K–12, which debuted at number 3 on the Billboard 200. The album was accompanied by a musical fantasy horror film written and directed by Martinez.
October 13, 2019: Start of K–12 Tour
On October 13, 2019, Melanie Martinez began the K–12 Tour in Washington, D.C., to promote her second album. The tour concluded prematurely on February 17, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2019: Release of Second Album K–12
In 2019, Melanie Martinez released her second studio album, K–12, which continued to build on her unique musical style and storytelling.
January 2020: Announcement of After School EP
In January 2020, Melanie Martinez announced she was working on an EP titled After School, set to be released in the spring of 2020 as the deluxe edition of K–12.
February 10, 2020: Release of Single "Copy Cat"
On February 10, 2020, Martinez released the stand-alone single "Copy Cat," featuring Tierra Whack. This marked Martinez's first feature with another artist.
February 17, 2020: Conclusion of K–12 Tour
On February 17, 2020, the K–12 Tour concluded prematurely in Brixton, England, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
April 2020: "Play Date" Gains Popularity on TikTok
In April 2020, "Play Date" became one of the top 100 most-played songs on Spotify in the US, gaining popularity on TikTok.
June 26, 2020: Release of Single "Fire Drill"
On June 26, 2020, Melanie Martinez released the single "Fire Drill," which had previously featured in the credits of the K–12 film. The song was part of her EP After School.
September 25, 2020: Release of After School EP
On September 25, 2020, Martinez released her EP After School, which was initially delayed. The EP served as the deluxe edition of her album K–12.
2021: Featured on Forbes' Under 30 List
In 2021, Melanie Martinez was featured on Forbes' Under 30 list, recognizing her achievements in the music industry.
February 18, 2023: Teaser for Third Album Portals
On February 18, 2023, Melanie Martinez teased her third studio album, Portals, after archiving all her Instagram posts.
March 31, 2023: Release of Portals Album
On March 31, 2023, Martinez released her third studio album, Portals. The album was promoted with the singles "Death" and "Void," which marked her first original appearances on the Billboard Hot 100.
May 2023: Start of Portals Tour
In May 2023, Melanie Martinez embarked on the Portals Tour to promote her third studio album.
November 2023: Launch of Portals Perfume
In November 2023, Melanie Martinez announced the launch of Portals Perfume, a collection of four fragrances developed in collaboration with indie perfumery Flower Shop Perfumes. The collection features a sculptural vessel modeled after Martinez's "Cry Baby" alter ego and retails for $275.
December 2023: Release of Music Video Tunnel Vision
In December 2023, Melanie Martinez released her third music video, Tunnel Vision. The video was directed by Martinez and produced by DojoHouse.
2023: Release of Third Album Portals
In 2023, Martinez released her third studio album, Portals, showcasing her growth as an artist.
February 2024: Release of Faerie Soirée Music Video
In February 2024, the music video for Melanie Martinez's song, Faerie Soirée, was released, marking another visual addition to her musical repertoire.
May 2024: Release of Light Shower Music Video
On May 2024, Melanie Martinez released the music video for her song, Light Shower, continuing her streak of visually engaging projects.