Melanie Martinez is an upcoming artist of 2016, and with her debut album “Cry Baby” going gold, Martinez is making breakthroughs in today’s music. Even without any radio play or television appearances, her album debuted at No. 6 on the Billboard 200 chart. Her unique carnival-pop sound followed with deep lyrics is haunting yet infectious. Besides her sound, her aesthetic is original. Martinez is well-known for her unique appearance, by dressing in baby doll clothes and having her hair two different colors.

Martinez’s first and only album “Cry Baby” is nothing short of authentic. Martinez created “Cry Baby” (a nickname she had when she was younger), which tells the story of that character throughout the album. Although the sound of her music is childish, behind her baby doll aesthetic, there is a complexity to her lyrics. Martinez tells the tale of drug abuse, a troubled family and relationships, in simple terms. Her songs are titled with innocent things such as “Cake,” “Carousel,” “Teddy Bear” and “Milk and Cookies” but the lyrics portray a much deeper meaning. Songs like “Dollhouse” have become hits for their light sound, but hard hitting lyrics.

With her haunting music and unique style, Melanie Martinez has created her own persona. Martinez’s original sound and aesthetic is making an impact in today’s mainstream music by creating something that has never been done before.