The eighth of ten children, Maren Ord would often perform with her family as the Ord Family Singers in and around Edmonton. Having been taught piano by her mother, Ord took up guitar and taught herself by age 15. She would also often sing whatever she heard on the radio. Having competed and won a number of high school battle of the bands with her group Harry Ainlay, she entered a radio-station song contest at the last minute, ending up with a song on the compilation. In 1998, after auditioning for a spot on the Lilith Fair tour, she caught the attention of Terry McBride, manager of Sarah McLachlan and Barenaked Ladies. She signed to Nettwerk Records in Canada and released her debut album, Waiting, in November 2000. Her songs have appeared in television shows such as Felicity and That's Life and has been nominated for Prairie Music and Pearl awards. She has also shared the stage with Sheryl Crow, the Cowboy Junkies, and Jimmy Rankin, among others. ~ Jason MacNeil