Melanie Martinez turns bullying into musical inspiration for new album

Melanie Martinez found inspiration for her debut album “Cry Baby” from childhood bullies and vintage toys
Melanie Martinez found inspiration for her debut album “Cry Baby” from childhood bullies and vintage toys (Credit: Catie Laffoon)

Melanie Martinez turned childhood bullying into a successful start in music.

The 20-year-old singer is on tour promoting her debut album "Cry Baby," which follows a fictional character Martinez fashioned after her experiences as a child growing up in New York.


"I think that 'Cry Baby' came from a nickname I was called as a kid," said Martinez, who was in Orlando this week for a sold-out show at The Social. "Growing up I always took things too personal, and was very emotional and got I made fun of for it."

Martinez says she was bullied in middle- and high school because she had trouble controlling her emotions. Through the years she looked for a way to turn this around, to wear the label of crybaby as a badge of honor instead of an insult.

When she was 14, Martinez began playing guitar and writing songs as a way of combining her love of music and poetry. She taught herself how to play the guitar, she said, because her family couldn't afford music lessons.

She was introduced to the world when she was 16 and a contestant on the third season of "The Voice,"  NBC's singing competition show. Martinez amassed a large online following and was one of the season's top-six finalists.

Martinez said her time on "The Voice" gave her the exposure and confidence she needed to start her own music career.

She was signed by Atlantic Records and began writing original music.   During one recording session a producer asked her to play toy sounds, which inspired "Dollhouse," her first hit single.

A video she wrote and produced for "Dollhouse" went viral on YouTube, amassing more than 22 million views since February 2014.

"Dollhouse" evolved into Cry Baby, which was released last month. It sold 40,000 copies in its first week and reached No. 6 on the Billboard 200 chart.

Martinez sees parallels between her life and her album's character. Both are on a journey of self-discovery, growing in confidence along the way.

"I just hope that anyone going through some personal issues can listen to the album and feel the same way," said Martinez. or 407-420-5677