BENDIGO'S John Lingard avoided elimination on The Voice on Sunday night after a battle with fellow Victorian Tom Oliver.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The pair sang One Republic's Counting Stars with judges split on which performer sang the song better.
Lingard was without his trademark guitar for the performance and his nerves were clear.
Judge Ricky Martin was impressed with Lingard after his audition and said the Bendigo performer showed a little more on Sunday night.
Joel Madden said he gave a really smooth performance.
Will.i.am favoured Tom Oliver saying he had more of a stage presence than Lingard.
But ultimately the decision was left to Kylie Minogue who picked Lingard for his potential.
"John, you were a bit wobbly on some notes tonight but you got back on track," she told Lingard.
"The person I'm choosing has a lot of potential and from what I've seen that is John."
The 26-year-old said he wasn't sure his mentor, Minougue, would put him through to the next round after fellow judges Martin and will.i.am picked his opponent.
"I didn't think I sang well, I had some dodgy notes and didn't think I did the song justice," Lingard said.
"Ricky (Martin) and will.i.am both picked Tom.
“Then Kylie just picked me, it was an encouraging sign."
Lingard said the performance was a little different to what he was used too.
"It was a little intense," he said.
"It was an up-tempo song and I performed it without my guitar which was a nerve-wracking thing.
"I haven't really sung without it before."
Lingard said it was hard to compete against his friend Tom.
"It is like you are singing a duet but it’s not,” he said.
“You have to try and sing your parts better than the other person.
“It is nothing like I have ever experienced.”
Lingard was immediately embraced by his parents after surviving the battle.
The Bendigo musician will now have a one-on-one mentor session with Kylie ahead of the live shows.
The Voice airs on Channel Nine on Sunday and Monday nights.