Since the release of her debut single in the summer of 2024, Thirwall’s rise has been one for the books. She’s achieved what her Little Mix co-stars haven’t quite perfected yet by avoiding the realm of cringe, and in doing so she’s maintained a sense of excitement and individuality in her releases. We’ve also seen her on tactically relevant tracks, appearing alongside Confidence Man on the early 00s inspired “gossip” and with Kesha on a revisited version of “BOY CRAZY”. JADE has been everywhere, so it’s no wonder this record has felt like a long time coming.
I’ve always been of the thought that “Angel Of My Dreams” is like a music student’s end-of-year project; a confused mess of too many ideas resulting in a progressive pop track that doesn’t know where it’s going. However, when experienced in context with this record, it starts to make sense. THAT’S SHOWBIZ BABY! is a cabaret, dipping into a variety of pop-adjacent styles to keep you entertained all evening with Thirwall as the star of the show.
From the opener right through to “Fantasy”, the record’s pace is punchy. Dancing around every single from the album’s lead up, it shines a kaleidoscopic light on her talents – from the Little Mix-coded “FUFN”, the dark and mysterious “Midnight Cowboy” and the joyous “Fantasy” where the record hits its peak. Where we see her shine though, is “Plastic Box”. There’s a level of authenticity felt here that surpasses the rest, and while a slower song, it keeps up with its neighbouring tracks through emotional draw.
By the second half of the record, it begins to lose a little steam. “Headache” and “Glitch” pack a softer punch than the rest of the pack, and the R&B influence on “Lip Service” feels a little too safe when listened to with the rest. That’s not to say these tracks are bad by any stretch, in fact they’re quite good, just feel a touch flat when we’re presented with such power in other moments.
“Unconditional”, the disco-driven track that details Thirwall’s struggle with her mother’s illnesses, keeps the pace up, and “Self Saboteur” delivers the pop you’d expect. Slower moments like “Natural at Disaster” and “Silent Disco” are more of the same, but before we reach the end of the album we strike gold. “Before You Break My Heart” is a perfect example of good sampling, and hearing The Supremes morph into JADE’s pop fantasy is more than well worth the listen.
THAT’S SHOWBIZ BABY! should be the blueprint for new artists breaking through. This debut shows a woman free to make the music she wants to, and boy does she do it well. She can put on the mask for any style she pleases, but we’re always aware of the artist underneath – never lost in the costume, always in control. Yes, there are some moments that some won’t be as much a fan of and there’s some unexpected breakout moments – but that’s the nature of art, and after all; that’s showbiz, baby.