Edmonton singer-songwriter Maren Ord won't be waiting around for a major label to seek her signature on a recording contract. The 16-year old high school student, whose songs have earned the interest of Canadian A&R representatives, will release the single "Sarah" to radio independently.

"We're just trying to get people hyped and to let the record companies know that we can do this on our own, so they need to snap to it," Ord laughs.

The teenager wasn't at all intimidated by the attention from record companies and media during a showcase gig at Toronto's Reverb during Canadian Music Week last March.

"There were lots of cameras there; lots of media and I had lots of interviews like MuchMusic, but I didn't let anything go to my head," she says. "I just went up and performed. It's kind of flattering, `Wow, people actually came to see me!' It's great."

When the A&R reps approached Ord, she recalls their primary question was whether she really wanted to pursue music. Yes, she answered in no uncertain terms. "I want to take it to the max."

Ord has been performing her entire life. The eighth of 10 children, all of whom have at one time or another been part of The Ord Family Singers (including mom), Ord says last Christmas was most likely her final year as part of the group.

"We've been down along the chain. It started with my oldest sisters and then moved on to the next and the next," she says. "Everyone is very musical in our family."

With a voice at times like that of a nightingale, and, at others, like a less angry Holly McNarland, Ord won one of six spots on Edmonton station Power 92's homegrown talent search. One of the judges, Greg Kavanagh, the "K' in techno project B.K.S., went beyond fulfilling the prize of producing two of her songs. He has just completed a full album, including the outstanding "Harsh Words" and gripping "Falling".

"I've been doing lots of studio work in Toronto," says Ord. "We've had to fly there for some studio work, then while I'm there I have to do other work like showcases. It's kind of hectic but it's really fun.

"(Greg's) given me lots of tips on performing and you learn as you go. So far, I've been writing all my songs and as a producer he arranges all the music. But I get my say."

Ord has one year left of school before she can pursue music full time. "If that flops, then I'd like to go into fine arts at university," she says.

But that isn't likely. Next week Terry McBride, manager of Sarah McLachlan and head of Nettwerk Productions, flies in from Vancouver to see one of Ord's showcases. "He's interested in managing me so he wants to see how I perform and he's also interested in signing me to his record company," Ord reports.

In fact, McLachlan is the ideal for Ord, an artist on whom she would like to model her career. "I think Sarah McLachlan's a pretty good example; she's been through so much and I think it's great what she's accomplished so far."