The women who have inspired some of Australia's best.

Double J is putting Girls to the Front this International Women's Day, with a full day of the best music from the best female artists throughout history.

To help us come up with the ultimate playlist, we asked some of our favourite Australian female artists to tell us a little bit about the woman musicians they find particularly inspiring and the songs that affect them most.

Here's a selection of some of their responses.

Adalita on Kim Gordon

I've loved Kim Gordon for a long time, I just think she is awesome. I grew up listening to Sonic Youth and she just inspired me from the get go. She was just the coolest of the cool, she doesn't take any shit and she actually seems like she doesn't give a shit whether you like what she does or not, which I love. I love reading her interviews and hearing her speak, she has this formidable intellect and has a lot of great things to say. Hearing her speak made me feel really strong.

I love 'Kool Thing', it's such a powerful song. When she says 'Are you gonna liberate us girls from male, white corporate oppression?', whenever that line would come up it would make me feel so powerful and angry and tough. Wanting to riot. She's just so tough and confronting and real, it was always thrilling to hear her say those words.

Courtney Barnett on Peaches

When I was 18 my friend introduced me to Peaches. I'd never heard anything like it before. She totally inspired me to be myself. To re-evaluate gender stereotypes, to make my own art without apologies. I've seen her live a few times and she absolutely rules the stage when she performs.

I always thought 'Boys Wanna Be Her' was rad, it's got some strong female empowerment vibes going on. I think I read somewhere that she's singing about Joan Jett.

Sarah Blasko on Kate Bush

She's one of the most unique voices of the last 50 years. All at once she's whimsical and very much herself and a weirdo. I love her.

Ngaiire on St. Vincent

I've loved St. Vincent ever since her first album, Marry Me. I've always been a bit of a weirdo so she's definitely a queen in my eyes. She is not afraid of polarising opinions or being different, so I love that she is completely owning her own lane.

Abbe May on Bertie Blackman

I can still remember the first time I saw her perform. She was wild, banshee like but with incredible melody. She really reminds me that you can really fake almost anything, but you can't fake greatness. Bertie is certainly no faker.

Emma Donovan on Leah Flanagan

During my work with The Black Arm Band we get the opportunity play with a lot of different artists. One time, when we did the production of dirtsong, Ursula Yovich came on board with another female artist called Leah Flanagan and in the repertoire they put this song called 'Goodbye'. I just about lost it when we started singing this song. It was around the time that I'd lost a family member.

It's hard as a singer when you're singing at a funeral or saying goodbye to someone. I always say with our mob and our community and in my family in particular, I've always been that strong woman of my family, it was just nice to hear somebody else sing a song [like that].

Want to give a shout out to a great woman? Tell us on Facebook and Twitter #girlstothefront.

Mia Dyson on Lucinda Williams

I remember I was about 19 or so when someone turned me onto a new album by Lucinda Williams. I was totally blown away; I'd never heard a woman sing with such grit and heart. So world weary and yet totally inspired. I had to hear more and I dove into all her previous work but her album Essence remains one of my favourites and continues to move me.

Ainslie Wills on Patti Smith

I first heard about Patti Smith when I was in high school in the '90s, growing up in regional New South Wales. I remember listening to a J Files special on Jeff Buckley, who I was obsessed with at the time, and he was talking about a whole bunch of different artists he was inspired by and influenced by. One of them was Patti Smith.

He played 'Ain't It Strange', which is a song from her Radio Ethiopia album. Up until that point, I don't think I'd really heard a female musician sound the way Patti sounds – this kind of part-singing, part-talking, really primal kind of approach to her music. Needless to say I was absolutely hooked.

Caiti Baker (Sietta) on Big Mama Thornton

I can't really recall the first time I heard Big Mama Thornton, I was far too young. Her album Ball & Chain has had a consistent presence in my life though. Her voice is so big and it's rich and it's round. Big Mama is iconically known for her release 'Hound Dog' which was later picked up by Elvis, but my favourite song of hers is 'Sweet Little Angel' and it features Buddy Guy on guitar. I used to sing this song with my dad's band when I was a lot younger.

I think Big Mama has had a massive influence on my phrasing and my tone as a singer, she's also probably inspired me to stretch my range.

Jess Cornelius (Teeth and Tongue) on M.I.A.

I remember when M.I.A. put out her single 'Paper Planes' in 2007 and it just blew my mind – it just has this incredible sound to it. I got hold of the whole album, Kala, and it combines all these sounds sourced from South Asia and Africa and old drum machines, but it's always tied together with really great songwriting.

M.I.A. grew up in the middle of the Sri Lankan civil war and her father was a political activist, so she's very political and very clever. She's got a lot to say and she's definitely not afraid to say it.

Olympia on The Slits

A band that I really love is The Slits. They were an all-female British punk band from the late-'70s to '80s. Simply put, these guys were pioneers. The Slits' first album Cut, recorded in '79 when the lead singer was only 17 at the time, is wild, vivid and one of the most creative records I've ever heard.

I remember the first time I heard The Slits' music, it cut through the conversation I was having and I had to go seek the band's name. Still to this day they're one of the few bands who continue to challenge, excite and make me want to be a better artist myself.