"This Is Acting" is the seventh studio album by Australian singer-songwriter, Sia. The album was released on January 29, 2016, by Inertia, Monkey Puzzle, and RCA Records. The album is a collection of songs that were initially written by Sia for other artists but did not make their final cuts. This pop album concept emerged from a different creative approach. Rather than writing songs drawn from her personal experiences, she wrote impersonal songs, like an actress playing eclectic roles.
Featuring several prominent producers like Greg Kurstin and Kanye West, the album offers diversity in its composition that ranges from reggae, electro-pop, and gospel to R&B and disco. Critics have acclaimed Sia's emotive vocals and the raw power manifested in the album's intense ballads. Tracks like "Alive," "Cheap Thrills," and "Unstoppable" have found commercial success worldwide. "This Is Acting" has catapulted Sia further into the global spotlight, reinforcing her standing as a prolific songwriter and an artist.
The album was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album and peaked at number four on the Billboard 200, marking Sia's highest chart position as a recording artist. It also achieved considerable chart success internationally, topping the charts in Australia and reaching the top ten in several countries worldwide. As of 2021, the album has amassed over 2 billion streams on Spotify alone.
