Possession (Melanie Martinez song)

Last updated

"Possession"
Melanie Martinez - Possession.png
Single by Melanie Martinez
from the album Hades
ReleasedJanuary 28, 2026 (2026-01-28)
Genre Pop ballad
Length3:08
Label Atlantic
Songwriters
Producer CJ Baran
Melanie Martinez singles chronology
"Evil"
(2023)		"Possession"
(2026)
Audio video
"Possession" on YouTube

"Possession" is a song by American singer-songwriter Melanie Martinez. It was released through Atlantic Records on January 28, 2026, as the first single from her upcoming fourth studio album, Hades (2026).

Contents

Background and release

Melanie Martinez in the Trilogy Tour, March 2025 Melanie Martinez (2024).jpg
Melanie Martinez in the Trilogy Tour, March 2025

Since May 2024, Martinez embarked on the Trilogy Tour in support of her studio albums, Cry Baby (2015), K–12 (2019), and Portals (2023). [1] In January 2026, she cleared all of her social media accounts alongside an official website, to prepare her upcoming new era. [2] Soon after, the singer uploaded a new video, which introduces a new character named Circle. [3]

A day before the release of "Possession", Martinez announced that it would be released on January 28. [4] The track was accompanied by its audio video [5] as well as a snippet of the visual video. [6] The song marks her first single since "Evil" (2023), which is featured in Portals. [7] [8]

Music and reception

A pop ballad song, [9] "Possession" runs for three minutes and eight seconds. [10] Martinez sings in a near whisper, yet with gusto, about the experience of feeling like someone's "possession", while describing the role of a "good housewife". [11] It "peels back the ways power can masquerade as love" and "spotlights Melanie's trademark blend of charm, mischief and bite". [12] Lars Brandle from Billboard saw Martinez "tackl[ing] the ugly scenario of domestic violence", calling the song as "edgy number built on a bed of rock". [8] Daily Times said the track depicts "her signature surreal visuals, sharp lyrics, and strong social commentary", [4] while Flood magazine's Will Schube referenced that it would not "sound out of place on a Spaghetti Western soundtrack", before she sings the lines such as "I hit my head real hard / I woke up in the dark". [7] EIN Presswire stated that "Possession" is "haunting, satirical and spotlights Melanie's trademark blend of charm, mischief and bite". [13]

Personnel

Credits were adapted from Tidal. [14]

Release history

List of release history
RegionDateFormatLabelRef.
VariousJanuary 28, 2026 Atlantic [10]

References

  1. ↑ Mier, Thomás (November 9, 2023). "Melanie Martinez 'Cry Baby' Character for First-Ever Arena 'Trilogy Tour'" . Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on June 27, 2025. Retrieved January 29, 2026.
  2. ↑ "Melanie Martinez Website". January 23, 2026. Archived from the original on January 23, 2026. Retrieved January 29, 2026.
  3. ↑ "Melanie Martinez Website". January 24, 2026. Archived from the original on January 24, 2026. Retrieved January 29, 2026.
  4. 1 2 "Melanie Martinez makes comeback amid fresh controversy". Daily Times . January 29, 2026. Retrieved January 29, 2026.
  5. ↑ Martinez, Melanie (January 28, 2026). Melanie Martinez - Possession (Official Audio) (video). Archived from the original on January 29, 2026. Retrieved January 29, 2026– via YouTube.
  6. ↑ Atlantic Records [@atlanticrecords]; (January 28, 2026). "@littlebodybigheart Is Back. Possession Is Out Now". Archived from the original on January 29, 2026. Retrieved January 29, 2026– via Instagram.
  7. 1 2 Schube, Will (January 28, 2026). "Melanie Martinez Shares Surprise New Single "Possession"". Flood. Archived from the original on January 29, 2026. Retrieved January 29, 2026.
  8. 1 2 Brandle, Lars (January 29, 2026). "'Cry Baby Is Dead:' Melanie Martinez Ushers in New Era with 'Possession'". Billboard . Archived from the original on January 29, 2026. Retrieved January 29, 2026.
  9. ↑ "Melanie Martinez starts a new musical era with the single "Possession"" [Melanie Martinez dá início a uma nova era musical com o single "Possession"] (in German). Teco Apple. January 28, 2026. Retrieved February 2, 2026.
  10. 1 2 "Possession - Single". Apple Music. January 28, 2026. Archived from the original on January 29, 2026. Retrieved January 29, 2026.
  11. ↑ Havens, Lyndsey (January 30, 2026). "Friday Music Guide: New Music from Noah Kahan, Labrinth, Cannons & More". Billboard . Retrieved February 2, 2026.
  12. ↑ "Release Roundup: Beck, Don Caballero, Melanie Martinez". Spin . January 29, 2026. Retrieved January 30, 2026.
  13. ↑ "Melanie Martinez Drops Surprise Track "Possession" Today" (Press release). EIN Presswire. January 28, 2026. Archived from the original on January 29, 2026. Retrieved January 29, 2026– via The National Law Review .
  14. ↑ "Possession". Tidal. January 28, 2026. Credits. Archived from the original on January 29, 2026. Retrieved January 29, 2026.
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