Melanie Martinez brought her Portals Tour to the City of Angels for a night to remember at the YouTube Theater on Friday (June 9) in Inglewood, California.
In true Melanie Martinez fashion, the recording artist went all out in terms of production for this string of shows, as there were detailed sets, background dancers, bold outfits and a prosthetic mask to symbolize her new era following the death of Cry Baby.
If you’ve had the chance to listen to Portals, you know that this project was a personal one for her. The 28-year-old gets very candid about previous relationships and dealing with misogyny, while finding and rebirthing herself into her current era.
Bringing the vulnerability from the record to the stage, Melanie opened her set with “Death,” a song that explains the death of her old self and how people are mourning for that version of her. After setting the bar high with “Death” and “Void,” another song that’s about not letting the judgement of others mess with your mental health and escaping everything that has been toxic towards your growth and wellbeing, she ensured fans that she’s officially “back from the dead” and isn’t going anywhere as she seemed in her element and most at home.
One of the most impressive parts about the Portals Tour is that Melanie performs exclusively behind her new form, wearing a prosthetic mask the entire show. We could imagine it not being the easiest to sing and perform in, but she did it flawlessly and beautifully. Another thing to note is how passionate and involved her audience is. The 6,000-seat venue was completely sold out, filled with fans screaming the words to every song, which sometimes even overpowered the music and her vocals.
Out of all the songs, our favorite moment came when Melanie sang her emotional ballad “Light Shower,” as both the 28-year-old and her fans witnessed an out-of-body and surreal moment that they’ll never forget.
If you’re looking to add new shows to your summer concert calendar, we highly suggest diving into the world of Melanie Martinez as it’s something you can easily get lost in for all the right reasons. The chart-topping artist is a true storyteller, as she pours everything into relatable lyrics, intricate visuals, interpretative dances and over-the-top productions. To see if Melanie is stopping by your city, visit her website here.
Click through the gallery to see some of our favorite snaps from Melanie’s Portals Tour stop in Los Angeles…
With reporting and images by Ashly Nicole.
