Melanie Martinez performing during the PORTALS Tour at the Moody Amphitheater Waterloo Park in Austin, Texas on June 17, 2023. (Photo: Ralph Arvesen)
PORTALS marks the 27-year-old NYC-born singer-songwriter-filmmaker’s first full-length release in nearly four years following her 2 billion-streaming, RIAA Gold-certified second album, K-12, which proved a sensation upon its September 2019 release, entering the Billboard 200 at #3 – Martinez’s highest chart placement thus far – with further debuts at #1 on the Alternative album chart, and #1 on the Soundtrack album chart.
Hailed by Forbes as “a perfect conceptual album in the streaming age,” K-12 also serves as a soundtrack companion to an eerily enchanting musical film, written, directed, and starring Martinez, now with over 104M views to date via YouTube alone HERE. Praised by Billboard as “a visual dream world of the 24-year-old’s own making… a whimsical, highly dramatized version of school life…”. K-12 is a surreal and visually-pleasing film with deep commentary on the growing pains of teenagers. With subject matter ranging anywhere from body-dysmorphia and bullying, to the discrimination of trans people in the work place. It displays the hierarchy of power in the educational system, but more importantly how that system is directly translated to every other field and industry on earth. It was the 6th highest grossing film in the US on the day of its September 3, 2019 theatrical release, with one-night-only screenings in over 425 cinemas in 32 countries.
Named to Forbes’ “30 Under 30 2021,” Martinez has brought her idiosyncratic vision to an array of diverse enterprises, including last year’s instantly sold-out collaboration with footwear brand Koi. In addition to her myriad musical and visual efforts, Martinez has also shown herself to be an unforgettable live performer via sold-out headline shows and festival performances around the planet. A number of hugely anticipated festival appearances are currently set through this month, including Lollapalooza Argentina (March 18), Lollapalooza Chile (March 19), Bogota, Columbia’s Estéreo Picnic (March 23), and Lollapalooza Brazil (March 25). A wide- ranging live schedule will be announced soon.
Martinez truly set forth on what has proven a remarkable creative journey with her 2015 debut album, CRY BABY. An unforgettable collection of provocative alt-pop framed as a modern fairy tale, complete with storybook illustrations and a dramatic structure that takes listeners through the life of its title character, the album instantly affirmed the multi-talented Martinez as an irrefutable artistic icon, thanks in part to a phenomenally popular series of hit singles and imaginative self-directed visuals that have amassed 6 billion total streams and 1.5 billion video views.
Named by SPIN as one of 2015’s top albums, CRY BABY made its Billboard 200 debut at #6 upon its initial release while also entering the “Top Alternative Albums” chart at #1. In addition to its own 2x RIAA Platinum certification, all of the album’s 13 original tracks – as well as three further songs featured on the CRY BABY (DELUXE EDITION) – have now been certified Gold or Platinum by the RIAA.
CRY BABY took on a stunning second life in 2020 when the longtime fan-favorite “Play Date“ – featured on the album’s Deluxe Edition – exploded into a true alt-pop sensation with millions of user-generated videos across TikTok. Now boasting over 1B worldwide streams along with 2x RIAA Platinum certification, “Play Date” propelled CRY BABY back onto the upper half of the Billboard 200 more than five years after its initial release. Billboard honored Martinez’s historic achievement, hailing her “committed aesthetic” while noting, “Instead of relying on hooks designed for Top 40, Martinez has found an audience by combining dark alt-pop, vulnerable storytelling and a penchant for striking audio-visual ideas...The fact that (CRY BABY) has persisted on the albums chart following its August 2015 release is a testament to the connection Martinez has developed with her listeners.”
Fan reviews:Setlist for the show at the Moody Amphitheater Waterloo Park
Great experience! The overall experience went absolutely great, had the best viewing and great time, it was overcrowded, but that’s how usually they are and Melanie put out a great performance!
Amazing and worth it! When I saw Melanie wasn’t coming I knew I had to see her. She put on an amazing performance and the visuals and lights were so dope! We cried from joy! And she looked so badass! Awesome band and dancers as well!
Amazing! Went last weekend and she was brilliant, produced such a great experience with the fog, flashing lights, and customized visuals that were played behind her for each song.
Simply amazing. This was the second Portals show I attended and it was even better the second time! Mel is such an amazing artist and live performer and seeing her vision come to life was so beautiful! The whole production is so cool to watch and I had so much fun getting to dress up to match the theme. Everyone who was at the concert was kind, respectful and fun to be around! 10/10 will be going to the next tour!
A dream come true. I have been waiting to go to a Melanie Martinez concert for years and I was not disappointed! The production, the stage, the band, the dancers, and the venue were all amazing and I can’t wait to go again in the future.
- DEATH
- VOID
- TUNNEL VISION
- FAERIE SOIRÉE
- LIGHT SHOWER
- SPIDER WEB
- LEECHES
- BATTLE OF THE LARYNX
- THE CONTORTIONIST
- MOON CYCLE
- NYMPHOLOGY
- EVIL
- WOMB
- POWDER
- PLUTO
- MILK OF THE SIREN
Melanie Martinez was the main act at the Moody Amphitheater Waterloo Park with guests Tanukichan. They continue across the United States with the last stop at the Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Florida on June 21, 2023.
Melanie Martinez
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Photos by Ralph Arvesen
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