FEMALE People Cam: Melanie Martinez's Portals Concert
A special edition of our monthly style compendium: the recent Melanie Martinez concert in Singapore.
Some have followed American singer-songwriter Melanie Martinez, 28, since the days of Tumblr, while others are captivated by her bold artistic transformations and the otherworldly, bizarre aesthetic she wields. Whatever draws them in, one thing unites them: the way Martinez pushes boundaries with her artistry and image.
Fans at the Melanie Martinez Portals showcase in January embraced their idol's ethereal fairy-inspired persona
This sentiment resonated through FEMALE People Cam at her one-night-only Portals showcase on January 25 at the Singapore Expo, part of her first Asian tour. Ahead, we meet the stylish young attendees and get to know Martinez more through their POV.
Name: Zati Syaswina
Age: 26
Occupation: Architect assistant
Her fit: “The balaclava is handmade based on a pattern by @_caseofcreations_ on Instagram. The top is a custom-printed Uniqlo. The dress is from Shein, and the cargo pants are from H&M. The shoes are from Converse, and the necklace is from the Malaysia-based brand @stw.stw.stw on Instagram.”
Her favourite Melanie Martinez song: “My all-time favourite song would be Mrs. Potato Head. It holds such a core memory for me. Aside from the song being catchy, Melanie was the first artist who left me shook with a genuinely creative concept. I loved the meaning behind the song — something no other artist would talk about.”
Why Melanie Martinez resonates with her: “I love how she embraced her unique persona and art without caring about what the world thinks, yet still built a fanbase that loves her for who she is. Recently, I too became more confident and comfortable with my uniqueness. I started to care less about what people think of me, and it’s a good thing, I think? Hehe.”
Her favourite part of the concert: “I can never stop talking about the Nymphology to Evil transition. It was my favourite part of the album, and it became my favourite part of the concert too. Also, the fact that majority of the crowd were girls made my first SG concert experience feel safe and enjoyable.”
Name: Xsin Joo Goh
Age: 21
Occupation: Student
Their fit: “The pink corset is from Pomelo (borrowed from a friend), and the dress is from Taobao. The handbag is a secondhand Vivienne Westwood, purchased from Vestiaire, and the boots are from Asos."
Why they are a fan of Melanie Martinez: “My favourite thing about her is the way she carries her identity throughout her albums. From her alter ego Crybaby in the Crybaby album to Portals album where she broke free from Crybaby, her style and sense of aesthetics seem to evolve so well with the release of each album.”
Their favourite Melanie Martinez album: “My favourite would have to be Crybaby. Growing up on Tumblr during the release of the the album made me feel a sense of connection to it. The album has helped me through my teenage years and gave me a sense of belonging growing up.”
Why Melanie Martinez resonates with them: “I resonate with her sense of style. Being a fan of her since her first album, her sense of style and aesthetics were so unique and prominent to me. I was so inspired by her split dye at the start that I dyed it on my hair too. Her sense of style and fashion made me find my sense of style as well."
Name: Raven Tan
Age: Prefers not to say
Occupation: Prefers not to say
Her fit: “The tank top is from @swixxz, the outerwear is by my friend, the leather pants are from H&M, the platform shoes are from Charles & Keith, the skeleton earrings are from @loopyfruppy, and the chain is from Shopee.”
Her favourite Melanie Martinez album: “I can’t choose between Crybaby and K-12. I relate a lot to the former, especially with the lyrics 'your heart's too big for your body' from the titular track Crybaby and "it's my party and I’ll cry if I want to" from Pity Party. For K-12, it's very relatable to my schooling years, especially the song The Principal."
Her favourite thing about Melanie Martinez: “She isn't afraid to be herself, from back when she was in a babycore phase in her Crybaby era to now doing fairycore in her Portals era. She's very aesthetic and artistic, able to portray herself in various ways, not just sticking to one theme. Her ideas are vast and creative, and she inspires me as an artist.”
When she became a Melanie Martinez fan: “I’ve been a fan of Melanie since 2015 when Crybaby was released. The first song I heard was Crybaby, and it was such a catchy song. Plus, I related to the lyrics so much that I decided to check out the singer, and now I’m a fan.”
Name: Noah Star
Age: 20
Occupation: Florist and shop assistant
His fit: “I'm wearing Lovisa earrings, a 711 Snufkin bag, a pantsuit with a matching belt and dress shirt with collar ruffles which are both borrowed from my mum's closet.”
His favourite Melanie Martinez album: “I really like K-12. Partly because the film that goes along with it is really cute, and I love the way each song represents a different phase of schooling while also addressing real-world scenarios faced by people and students and Melanie herself.”
His favourite thing about Melanie Martinez: “Being able to finally see Melanie in real life. The way she puts on a show is wonderful — all the visual effects, props, the dancers with the great choreography, and Melanie singing. The way it all comes together tells its own story.”
How he discovered Melanie Martinez: "I first discovered Melanie Martinez back in 2013 on YouTube, captivated by her performance on The Voice. Both her voice and her unique vibe instantly intrigued me. When Crybaby was released, I spent countless hours listening and analysing the songs, drawing inspiration for my art and outfits as a young teen (and even now)."
Name: Nadiah Syukriyah
Age: 18
Occupation: Student
Her fit: “The top, skirt, glasses and backpack are thrifted. The tube top and socks are both from Shopee. The shoes are from H&M."
When she became a Melanie Martinez fan: "Melanie Martinez captured my heart way back in primary school, nine years ago, thanks to a friend showing me the Dollhouse music video on YouTube. I fell completely in love with the concept and the video's execution. From there onwards, I started listening to her entire Crybaby album, and to this day, it has led me to grow up with her as an artist.”
Her favourite Melanie Martinez song: “I love every song Melanie Martinez has written, but from her recent album, Portals, my favourite would be Battle of the Larynx. As I age and she releases a new album, I end up in a different phase of my life with new priorities, mindset, and challenges, leading me to resonate with different songs from each era."
Why Melanie Martinez resonates with her: “The lyrics she writes in her songs. From being a young girl to a teenager, she has always been a huge role model to me. Listening to her songs made me feel less alone as she would always perfectly describe my feelings and put them into words, comforting me during the hardships I faced at that point in my life. I feel that her works have never failed to inspire me when creating my own artworks, especially her creativity when it comes to her visuals and the metaphors used in writing her songs."
Name: Joanzzie Lee
Age: 24
Occupation: Freelance creative
Her fit: "The shirt is Taobao and the pants and bag are Uniqlo. The shoes are Dr. Martens I made the bracelet and the necklace is from @motley.moxie."
When she became a Melanie Martinez fan: "My memory gets fuzzy on the exact date, but it might have been around her The Voice appearance and the release of Dollhouse that I fell for Melanie Martinez. Her rendition of Ray Charles' Hit the Road Jack on the show was so addictive. Then, when her own music dropped, I was instantly drawn to the whimsical yet dark carnivalesque vibes. I also appreciate how she weaves other thematic elements, like gothic undertones, into her lyrics. I love her visuals too. It’s like theatre and film and art – a real feast for the eyes."
Her favourite Melanie Martinez song: "Melanie's early work holds a special place in my heart, but the stylistic shift in Portals, particularly the song Death, truly blew me away. The song tackles the heavy theme of mortality head-on, exploring the yearning for connection from both sides of the veil and the eventual release offered by death. Combined with the powerful music, it created a deeply impactful experience for me.
What was your favourite part of the concert?: "The most unforgettable performances were Nymphology and Soap. Both songs ignited a cathartic experience, amplified by the electrifying energy of the other concertgoers."
Name: Joanzine Lee
Age: 21
Occupation: Student
Her fit: “The dress is from Taobao, and the accessories and boots were gifted. The pink cardigan was thrifted.”
When she became a Melanie Martinez fan: “I first saw her on Season 3 of The Voice and instantly fell in love with her voice, so I started rooting for her.”
Her favourite Melanie Martinez song: "Lunchbox Friends portrays Crybaby's yearning for genuine connection, seeking more than superficial lunchtime companions. She hopes to find people who truly appreciate her personality, interests, and talents, resonating deeply with those of us who've longed for the same understanding."
Her favourite Melanie Martinez album: “I can’t decide, but I remember being impressed with K-12, probably because of the mini-film and the theatrical elements involved.”
Name: They prefer to only go by "Feesh"
Age: 19
Occupation: Student
Their fit: "My clothes are from Lutra Jump on Taobao and the hand warmers are from @Fancytrap_Kanarin_ on Instagram."
When they became a Melanie Martinez fan: "My sister was a Tumblr user in 2015 and told me about her, and we listened to Crybaby together."
How they planned their fit: "I was originally planning for a more fairy theme, but I didn't have many clothes like that, so I went with the 'old vintage toy' route. My go-to colours are always blue, pink, and yellow, and I mostly wanted to be comfortable too."
Their favourite thing about Melanie Martinez: "I love her style. She is the only artist I’ve seen with aesthetics that resonated with me, and her songs are also diverse in sound."