Why does Melanie Martinez wear a mask? Conan Gray introduces singer in his closing speech at Lollapalooza

29-year-old American singer-songwriter Melanie Martinez appeared in Chicago's Lollapalooza 2024, on Sunday, August 4. Her performance further made headlines after she dedicated a portion of it to highlight the war in Gaza. Messages like "End the Genocide," "F— Colonization," and "Your Silence Won’t Protect You" popped up on the screen behind her and gained massive applause from the audience.

Melanie performing in Berlin in a mask, (Photo by Frank Hoensch/Redfer)

While talking about singer Melanie Martinez, it is important to note that she is known for her uniquely styled masks. She has even spoken about her masks while talking to Bandwagon. In the conversation, Melanie stated the masks helped her deal with anxiety on stage. She continued,

"It’s really fun, but definitely a challenge to perform in. I enjoy being in character to the fullest onstage though, it helps me overcome my anxiety and stage fright."

The artist also said,

"My makeup artist Laurel spends hours carefully painting a piece of gorgeous art onto a silicone mask I wear every night."

After being introduced by Conan Gray, Melanie performed her set that had three divisions. Each section focused on three albums of the singer- Cry Baby, K-12, and Portals. Gray was heard saying in his closing speech,

"I love you, get home safe, enjoy Melanie! I love you!"

---

Exploring Melanie Martinez's Lollapalooza performance on Sunday

August 4 marked the end of the Lollapalooza music festival which was held in Chicago. The last day of the event was graced by several bands and artists, including Conan Gray, Scarlet Demore, Medium Build, Teddy Swims, and Melanie Martinez. Martinez, born in Astoria, gained recognition in 2012 after she appeared on The Voice. The singer released her debut studio album, Cry Baby, in 2015.

Her performance on the last day of Lollapalooza 2024 in Chicago was one of the most talked-about ones after she addressed the war conditions in Gaza. She performed several songs like Nurse's Office, Carousel, Dollhouse, and Cry Baby.

The track then shifted to Dollhouse, where the audience witnessed Melanie's backup dancers appear on the stage with huge bunny masks. The audience too sang with the 29-year-old singer. She then switched to her next track Carousel, when the audience continued cheering for her. Shortly after this, the singer showcased the messages for the war in Gaza.

At the end of the set, Melanie was wearing a babydoll dress, performing Nurse's Office. While the song was over, she mouthed the words "Help me." She addressed the audience at the end, and said,

"Thank you so much Chicago. Thank you guys so much I love you so f*cking much."

A Palestinian flag soon fluttered behind Melanie Martinez, and she asked the audience if they could do one last thing before ending the set. She said,

"If you could, scream as loud as you possibly can ‘Free Palestine,’ on the count of three."

This act mostly received support from people on the internet. Melanie Martinez had always been very vocal about her support for Palestine. In February, WAFA reported Martinez responded to a user on Instagram after they asked her if she had signed a letter meant to call for including Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest. The singer denied any such act, and said,

"No, i never signed anything, & I do not support any Zionist bullsh*t. I am in full support of Palestine."

---

Melanie Martinez shocked fans by revealing her face before beginning her tour

A day before beginning her ongoing The Trilogy Tour, she posted a photo on Instagram where she was seen without her prosthetics. In the Instagram caption, she further wrote,

"This show is so beautiful... Thank you for giving me the opportunity to create this experience. It is truly a dream come true for me. I cannot wait to see you guys!! ... & I have a surprise for you tomorrow, Seattle 🐌."

It had also been revealed that Martinez wouldn't be wearing her masks for the first two albums during the tour. The same had been confirmed by the singer in a Q & A session on Instagram, the screenshot of which was later posted in a tweet.

The Trilogy Tour was to support all three of her studio albums- Cry Baby, K-12, and Portals. The first show of the tour began on May 10 in Seattle and the tour is to conclude with Melanie's last performance scheduled for November 16 in Mexico City.

The Lollapalooza performance at Grant Park was a part of The Trilogy Tour as well. Melanie's next show of the tour is to happen on September 18, 2024, in Dublin.