Melanie Martinez has said farewell to her doe-eyed, babydoll-like aesthetic from her Cry Baby era. Now, we’ve been introduced to a new version of Melanie that we have never seen before, and fans can’t stop talking about her new alien persona.
The “Pacify Her” singer rose to fame in 2012 due to her appearance in the third season of The Voice, and despite being eliminated by an audience vote during the fifth week, Martinez’s two-tone hair and unique voice garnered significant attention. After her first two albums, Cry Baby and K-12, the artist took a hiatus from the music industry. So obviously, Martinez had to make her comeback iconic.
Her third studio album, PORTALS, was released on March 31st, transporting fans into a dimension of fairy-core creatures and a green-hue environment that is full of extraterrestrial oddities. The release of the album and its new aesthetic has shocked Martinez’s fans – her appearance is unrecognizable.
“DEATH”, the first track of the record, marks the end of Martinez’s hiatus, with a repeating chorus, “Back from the dead, back from the dead. I’m back from the dead, back from the dead,” referencing the end of her four-year hiatus. The music video for the track also shows a mushroom-shaped tree with “RIP CRYBABY” carved onto it before Melanie morphs from her old persona into her new form, marking the end of her babydoll era.
Leading up to the release of PORTALS, Martinez posted a reel to her Instagram on February 21st with a catchy beat in the background, and a large egg slowly being zoomed into with the caption, “Incubating.”
View this post on Instagram
Martinez has now hatched out of her egg into a pink-colored creature with extravagant color-changing hair, four big eyes, and mystical outfits. Her new persona is achieved with prosthetics that create this creepy, yet eye-catching aesthetic.
Fans, however, couldn’t stop (and still can’t stop) talking about the unrecognizable artist. Many fans were quick to jump into social media to express their mixed feelings about Martinez’s entrance into a new dimension. While some stated their dislike of Martinez’s look, like in this tweet where the singer is compared to a pink version of “Gollum” from The Lord Of The Rings, other fans admired her creativity in achieving an aesthetic that hasn’t been done before. Another tweet jokingly mocked those who dislike the new style, telling them, “STFU. LOOK AT MELANIE, THEY’RE STUNNING.”
Melanie Martinez looks stunning in new picture ? pic.twitter.com/hfOFyMGbWV
— Aaron (@isolatedplant) April 5, 2023
“i like melanie martinez but now… her new style is-
STFU.
LOOK AT MELANIE, THEY’RE STUNNING#portals pic.twitter.com/8p4AqQ7KV7— ` dani (@dnaristuff) April 4, 2023
A fashion-analyzing TikTok user (@dressedcodes) posted a video answering questions about the transition from Martinez’s highly loved Cry Baby aesthetic into her new PORTALS era. The comment section itself shows the mixed opinions of fans.
@dressedcodes Replying to @dollface2002 #greenscreen #melaniemartinez #melaniemartinezedit #melaniemartinezfashion #melaniemartinezoutfits #fashionwriter #personalstylist #outfitideas #fashioncollage #styleanalysis #fashionhelp #fashionjournalist #outfitinspo #ootd #grwm #fashionnerd #fashiongirl ♬ original sound – Sydney
Martinez also received criticism for copying Björk’s mystical aesthetic, like how she presents herself in her album Utopia, but a Twitter user (@larynxvoid) debunked the accusations in a thread. Martinez has been creating and playing around with different fairy-like styles for a long time. She’s been ready to transcend into her new persona for years.
Thread where I explain how Melanie Martinez didn’t steal bjork’s concept. pic.twitter.com/P5o17AfkOD
— seb (@larynxvoid) March 3, 2023
It’s hard for us to say goodbye to Melanie Martinez’s Cry Baby era (it was so iconic we have to mourn), but this new galaxy we have entered with PORTALS makes us excited for projects we can expect to see from the singer in the future.
Top photo: Screengrab from Youtube, “DEATH” Melanie Martinez
