When 18-year-old Tajja Isen isn’t jet-setting across the Atlantic to record her first solo album with two of Britain’s hottest producers, she continues to be sought out to voice many a character in the animation world.
Tajja Isen
She is also studying English at the University of Toronto on a scholarship. And if that doesn’t keep her busy enough, last month Isen picked up a Gemini Award for her voiceover work as Atomic Betty, in the hit series of the same name.
Isen and the cast of Atomic Betty won a Gemini Award in the category of best individual or ensemble performance in an animated program or series. “I got to keep the award,” says Isen. “Since I know the Canadian animation community so well, everyone was so supportive and so excited with me and for me for this.
“It was a very honouring, humbling experience. It was the first time I went to the Geminis, the first nomination and the first win. It was a nice kind of initiation to that.”
The singer-songwriter, pianist and actor began her life in showbiz at the age of 10, and her voiceover career continues to flourish.
Although Atomic Betty is no longer in production, she’s working on two preschool animated series for next year. One, as yet untitled, is for CBC Television and the other, from Breakthrough Film & Television, is called My Big, Big Friend, in which she co-stars with her younger sister, and fellow voiceover actor, Nissae, 12.
But Isen’s primary focus right now is her music, which she describes as alternative with an accessible element to it. She says it is piano-centred with a jazzy element to it, similar to the music of American chanteuses Fiona Apple and Rachael Yamagata.
Yamaha Canada recognized her musical talents by sponsoring her for an Artist Development Relationship; this includes supplying her with grand pianos for her performances and studio recordings.
Isen’s father, Jordie, a chiropractor with a layperson’s understanding of the music business, decided, because of its vibrancy, the United Kingdom music scene was the happening place for his daughter to nurture her musical talents.
Isen attracted the attention of the top, London-based producer Jon Kelly. “I was really interested in working with Jon Kelly because of the people he had worked with,” Isen says. “He worked with Tori Amos and he produced four of Kate Bush’s albums, and they are two of my influences.”
Kelly brought Paul (Wix) Wickens on board, musical director and keyboard player for Paul McCartney.
Isen, along with several first-class British studio musicians, began laying down tracks last January. Sixteen tracks, all composed by Isen, have been recorded to date, and there are plans to go back to London in December to record more. The title and projected launch date aren’t determined yet, but plans are to release the CD in the U.K. first, and then worldwide.
Once her CD is released, Isen looks forward to touring in support of the album. “A big part of what I’m looking forward to is getting out there and spreading my music by playing shows,” she says.
In her precious spare time, Isen loves to write songs and read. She says she has an appetite for books that continues to grow. Isen also enjoys spending time at the family’s Thornhill, Ont., home with her father, mother Karen and her four younger siblings.
