Steer by Missy Higgins

In the brilliant tapestry of contemporary female songwriting, few pieces capture the essence of personal liberation as powerfully as Missy Higgins’ ‘Steer.’ Released in 2007 as the lead single from her second album On a Clear Night, this anthem resonates with particular significance on International Women's Day as we celebrate women’s artistic voices.

The genesis of ‘Steer’ is intimately tied to Missy Higgins’ experiences in Western Australia. While residing in Broome, she found solace and inspiration in the expansive landscapes and the clarity of the night sky. Reflecting on this period, Missy Higgins remarked that observing the vastness of the universe made her realise the brevity of life, leading to a liberating sense of perspective. This epiphany became the cornerstone of ‘Steer’, a song that encourages listeners to take control of their lives and navigate their own paths. The song opens with sensory imagery that immediately draws listeners in: 

Feel it falling off like clothing

Taste it rolling on your tongue

See the lights above you glowing

Oh, and breathe them deep into your lungs.

These evocative lines establish the song’s theme of awakening—of shedding constraints and embracing your power.

The Australian songwriter had already established herself with her debut album The Sound of White in 2004, but ‘Steer’ marked a pivotal evolution in her artistry and has been lauded for its empowering message, particularly among women. The lyrics serve as a reminder of one's agency and the power to direct one’s destiny, a sentiment that aligns seamlessly with themes of female empowerment. By asserting that individuals have the capacity to steer their own lives, Missy Higgins challenges societal expectations and encourages women to embrace their autonomy. 

In ‘Steer,’ Missy Higgins masterfully intertwines personal revelation with universal themes of freedom and self-direction. The song stands as a testament to her artistry and her commitment to inspiring others, particularly women, to embrace their inner strength and navigate their own journeys with confidence and grace.

Beyond her musical accomplishments, Missy Higgins has channeled her influence toward environmental sustainability, animal rights, and gender equality. Her commitment to creating positive change mirrors the song's closing imperative: “Get out of the box and step into the clear/’Cause now you finally know you can steer.”

The Way You Roll by Fiona Hastie

The Way You Roll reflects a life shaped by music and shared experience. Grounded and direct, the song captures the rhythm of a long partnership — built over time through making music together. It speaks to connection, familiarity, and the quiet strength that comes from years of collaboration and companionship.

Sleepyhead by Pippa Lester

Sleepyhead is a gentle lullaby that invites stillness and calm. Simple and intimate in its expression, the song creates a space to pause, breathe, and rest. Its warmth lies in its quietness, offering a moment of tenderness and reflection within the program.

Rollercoaster Ride by Julia Nicholls

Rollercoaster Ride grew out of Julia Nicholls’ love of singing with friends — something that was central to her musical life during her time at school. Whether in choir or gathered informally in a practice room, these shared moments of music-making form the heart of the piece.

Julia began writing the song in Year 12, sketching out harmonies and lyrics in a notebook as something she could sing with friends. One morning before school, they tried it together for the first time. Those original harmonies and lyrics remain in the opening of the chorus heard in this performance.

Several years later, while writing for an a cappella quartet, Julia returned to that notebook. The chorus resurfaced with vivid clarity, and what had once been a small, unfinished idea quickly expanded into a complete song. In this way, Rollercoaster Ride carries within it a direct connection to those earlier experiences — a piece of her high school musical life brought forward and reimagined.

Wisely and Slow by The Staves

Wisely and Slow by The Staves is a hauntingly reflective song that captures the essence of unspoken truths and enduring emotional pain. Written by the Stavely-Taylor sisters, Camilla, Emily, and Jessica, this song showcases their signature harmonies, both delicate and powerful. As you listen, notice how the harmonies intertwine and evolve, creating a warmth and comfort that lingers long after the song ends. The phrase “wisely and slow“ serves as a gentle reminder to take our time, to savour life’s moments. This song is a striking example of how collaboration can create something truly special, where the sum is greater than its parts, inviting us to reflect on the importance of understanding and communication.

In-affection by Jade Bray

In-affection explores the emotional complexity of relationships shaped by insecurity and disconnection. The title itself describes an inability to express everyday warmth, and the song sits in that space where love, anger, and frustration can exist all at once. Raw and honest, it gives voice to feelings that are often difficult to articulate.

Tarimi Nulay by Deborah Cheetham Fraillon

Deborah Cheetham Fraillon AO is a Yorta Yorta woman, soprano, composer, and one of the most influential figures in Australian music. Her work has reshaped the landscape of classical performance in Australia, particularly through her commitment to creating pathways for First Nations musicians. She performed at the opening ceremony of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games and is the founder of Short Black Opera, a company dedicated to supporting and developing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander singers in the operatic tradition.

As a composer, Cheetham Fraillon’s work often centres language, identity, and connection to Country. Her music creates space for First Nations voices within classical forms, bringing cultural knowledge and storytelling into concert settings in powerful and meaningful ways.

Tarimi Nulay, meaning “Long Time Living Here,” is sung in the Gadigal language. The song speaks to belonging and deep connection to place — a recognition of the enduring presence of First Nations peoples and cultures. Through its repetition and stillness, the music invites reflection on time, continuity, and the relationship between people and Country.

I Hold You by Sally Whitwell

Sally Whitwell is a renowned pianist, composer, conductor, and educator based in Sydney whose primary mission is to “Keep Classical Music Friendly.” Her diverse musical career includes performances as a solo artist and as part of ensembles, as well as working extensively with youth choirs such as Gondwana Voices. Whether she's performing solo recitals on grand stages or engaging in rhythmic clapping games with rooms full of eight-year-olds, Sally Whitwell’s passion for music and community shines through. 

‘I Hold You’ is a movement from Sally Whitwell’s choral work Tribe, a tender and introspective composition subtitled ‘Oxytocin,’ after the hormone often dubbed the “love” or “happy” hormone. Oxytocin is known for its role in building trust, empathy, and bonding, and its influence is keenly felt in this music. ‘I Hold You’ speaks to the idea of support and solidarity, embodying the quiet strength that glows from within when we hold each other through life’s challenges.

Sally Whitwell strives to uplift women artists through her music. In 2023, the composer presented Pictures at an exHERbition, a song cycle inspired by the works of Australian women artists, in partnership with the National Gallery of Australia. Starting its life as Sally Whitwell’s lockdown project, Pictures at an exHERbition is a celebration of the depth and breadth of work by Australian women artists, from Grace Cossington-Smith and Thea Proctor through to Katy B Plummer. Sally Whitwell said of the work, “I conceived of this song cycle Pictures at an exHERbition as a kind of gift for those fighting the traditional, patriarchal structures of the entire creative sector.”

Band Girl by Louise Cameron

Band Girl captures the experience of growing as a musician through persistence and determination. It reflects the everyday reality of practising, learning, and finding time for music alongside life’s many demands. At its heart, the song celebrates the quiet commitment that underpins a lifelong connection to music.

Bridal Train by The Waifs

Bridal Train tells the true story of Betty Cain—grandmother of Waifs sisters Vikki Thorn and Donna Simpson—who in 1946 received a telegram at midnight instructing her to be at Perth Railway Station the next morning. She was a war bride, one of thousands of Australian women who had married American servicemen during World War II and were now being transported across the continent to board ships bound for the United States.

Released in March 2004 as the lead single from the band's live album A Brief History..., the song won first prize in both the Folk category and overall Grand Prize at the 2006 USA Songwriting Competition. It ranked #54 on Triple J's Hottest 100 of 2004 and remains one of The Waifs' most beloved songs—a piece of family history that became a piece of national memory.

The song captures both the romance and the rupture of that moment: young women leaving everything they knew—family, country, landscape—to follow love into uncertainty. These were journeys taken on faith, often with babies in arms, crossing a country by rail before crossing an ocean by ship. The bride trains were crowded, chaotic, emotional—filled with excitement, fear, and the irreversible weight of goodbye.

What makes Bridal Train so enduring is its specificity. It doesn't mythologize or simplify; it stays close to the ground, to the detail of one woman's experience. In doing so, it honours the thousands of others who made the same journey, carrying their whole lives in a suitcase and their futures in their hearts.

The Waifs—based in Albany, Western Australia—have always written with this kind of honesty: personal stories that open into something larger, songs that feel like memory even the first time you hear them.

Outsider by Kimberly Williams

Outsider is a deeply personal reflection on migration, identity, and belonging. Drawing on Kimberley’s journey from Taiwan to Narrogin, the song explores the challenges of living in a language and culture that can feel unfamiliar, and the gradual process of building connection and finding a sense of home.

Days Go By by Kay Weaver

Written during a difficult time, Days Go By speaks to resilience and hope. It reflects the role music can play in offering comfort and stability, providing something to hold onto when life feels uncertain. The song carries a quiet optimism, looking forward to the possibility of brighter days ahead.

Terania Tree by Jan Smith

Terania Tree is inspired by a moment of connection to place and collective action. It recalls the 1979 protest against logging in the Terania Creek rainforest, where music and song were part of a peaceful movement to protect the land. The song captures both the power of nature and the impact of coming together to stand for something important.

What Happens When a Woman by Alexandra Olsavsky

Alexandra Olsavsky’s What Happens When A Woman is “a song for the strong women of our world who seek to empower themselves by asking important questions.” Through a powerful unison melody accompanied by body percussion, the song is a striking anthem that invites women everywhere to consider their potential power. Harmonies blossom as the song develops, creating a joyous chorus of voices. 

What Happens When A Woman was first performed by the vocal group Artemisia, of which Alexandra Olsavsky is a founding member alongside Diana Lawrence and Kaitlin Foley. The group was named after three inspirational women: naval queen of Halicarnassus Artemisia of Caria, Italian Baroque painter Artemisia Gentileschi, and Greek goddess Artemis. They carry this strength throughout each performance, as well as through their educational outreach to community and youth ensembles as they discuss cultural literacy, improv and songwriting, and female empowerment. Artemisia is dedicated to championing the works of living female-identifying composers, and the group frequently commissions and performs new compositions. 

As choral director Colleen McNickle writes, “What Happens When A Woman discusses the power of women when they are in charge. Rising above, leading with love, working as one, and not backing down, women get the job done.”

When You Walk in the Room by Jackie De Shannon

Jackie DeShannon, born Sharon Myers, is a true pioneer of the rock and roll era, breaking into the male-dominated world of music with her powerful songwriting and distinctive voice. In the early 1960s, she signed with Liberty Records, transforming into Jackie DeShannon—a name inspired by an Irish ancestor, with “Jackie“ chosen as a gender-neutral moniker to boost her appeal. DeShannon was one of the first female singer-songwriters to make waves in rock and roll, and her career took off as she toured with the Beatles on their first American tour in 1964. Her songs became hits for many artists, including the Byrds, the Searchers, and Marianne Faithfull. Her own recording of When You Walk in the Room is a perfect example of her ability to capture the electrifying emotions of love and excitement. The song’s opening lines, “I can feel a new expression on my face, I can feel a glowing sensation taking place,” reflect that moment when someone special enters the room, changing everything in an instant. DeShannon's blend of folk-rock with a Wall of Sound production in this track set a new standard for pop music, making it both timeless and innovative. DeShannon’s talents extended beyond performing; she co-wrote the Grammy-winning Bette Davis Eyes and the timeless Put a Little Love in Your Heart. Inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2010, Jackie DeShannon’s legacy is one of innovation, resilience, and a lasting influence on the music industry.

O Vertigo! by Kate Miller-Heidke and Keir Nuttall

O Vertigo! is the title track from Kate Miller-Heidke’s fourth studio album, released in March 2014. Co-written with her long-time collaborator Keir Nuttall, it marked her first independent release following her departure from Sony Music, produced through a successful fan-funded campaign with PledgeMusic. The project went on to debut at number 4 on the ARIA Albums Chart, establishing Miller-Heidke as one of Australia’s most distinctive independent artists.

The song itself is a celebration of freedom and risk. Blending driving rhythmic momentum with soaring vocal lines, Oh! Vertigo! explores the exhilaration and uncertainty of standing at the edge—both musically and metaphorically. Its title plays on the dual meaning of vertigo: the dizzying fear of falling, and the thrill of letting go.

Miller-Heidke’s background in classical voice training and her flair for theatrical expression infuse the song with unique character. Shifting effortlessly between pop immediacy and operatic power, she creates a sound world that is bold, dynamic, and unmistakably her own.

First performed live at her O Vertigo! tour in 2014 and later featured in her celebrated Kate Miller-Heidke Live at The Sydney Opera House album (2016), the work remains one of her signature pieces—a fearless fusion of technical brilliance, pop energy, and emotional release.

Light of a Clear Blue Morning by Dolly Parton

Dolly Parton wrote Light of a Clear Blue Morning at a turning point in her life, following a period of personal and professional upheaval. After years of working in close partnership with Porter Wagoner, Dolly made the difficult decision to step away and pursue her own path as an artist. The song emerged in that moment — not as something carefully constructed, but as something she has described as pouring out of her.

At its heart, the song is about renewal. It captures that moment of stepping out of darkness and into something new — uncertain, perhaps, but full of possibility. The image of a “clear blue morning” becomes a metaphor for clarity, independence, and self-belief.

Musically, the song carries a sense of forward motion, building from quiet reflection into a feeling of openness and release. Its message is simple but powerful: that even after difficult periods, there is always the potential to begin again.

Accelerate by Julia Nicholls

Accelerate is a song about momentum; about pushing forward, lifting each other up, and refusing to stand still in the face of inequality. Composed by Mirabilis Collective musician Julia Nicholls for Her Sound, Her Story, this piece embodies the spirit of International Women’s Day, inspired by the 2025 theme of Accelerate Action. With driving rhythms, soaring melodies, and joyous harmonies, it captures the collective strength of women supporting women, echoing the voices of those who have fought for change before us and those who continue the fight today.

The world premiere performance of Accelerate was especially powerful, bringing together musicians from Mirabilis Collective alongside choirs from St Mary’s Anglican Girls’ School, Methodist Ladies’ College, and St Hilda’s Anglican School for Girls.

The intergenerational collaboration reflects the song’s essence of passing the torch, building each other up, and inspiring the next generation to step forward with confidence and determination. In this performance, that spirit continues — with women of different ages and experiences, including senior members of the community, sharing the stage and contributing their voices to something collective and deeply meaningful.

At its core, Accelerate is a call to action. It is a celebration of resilience, solidarity, and belief in a brighter future—one that we shape together, through every step we take, every voice we raise, and every barrier we break.

There's a girl in a corner

She doesn't know the strength she holds

There's a girl on the outside

Left stranded in the cold

There's a girl in the mirror

Seein' a face that's not her own

But every girl under pressure

Has gotta know she's not alone

Oh, 'cos I know this for sure

There's a whole wide world of sisters 

There to lift you so much higher than before

And so we keep on climbing

Hurry, we can hardly wait to keep on shining

Ready to accelerate

We make our future strong together every day

Yeah, you know we're gonna find a way

I believe that our power 

Grows stronger all the time

I celebrate all the ways we've come so far 

With still so far to climb

I'm gonna lift my sisters' voices

Not gonna let them feel ashamed

'Cos a girl who's nothing like me

Is my sister all the same

Oh, and I'll shout it out loud

'Cos the ones who came before us

Did it for us

And we're making them proud

And so we keep on climbing

Hurry, we can hardly wait to keep on shining

Ready to accelerate

We make our future strong together every day

Yeah, you know we're gonna find a way

I am a woman who knows her worth

I rise and I fall and I grow

I owe it all to the girl I was

She never gave up, she believed

And I want her to know

I'm gonna keep on climbing

Hurry, I can hardly wait to keep on shining

Ready to accelerate

We keep on climbing

Hurry, we can hardly wait to keep on shining

Ready to accelerate

We make our future strong together every day

Yeah, you know we're gonna find a way

Keep on climbing far

We're gonna find a way

Keep on shining

Oh, we're gonna find our way

Strong together every day

Yeah, you know we're gonna find a way