And this week their mentor was an esteemed Aussie muso – Mark Holden. No, really. "I really got a lot out of it, and I think each of us should be doing it," Mark said. "Even Gretel on the end there," he added, referring to Kyle.

In a look at Mark's mentoring session with Matt Corby, they discussed his use of vibrato. "Use it more sparingly," Mark told him, using a cricket analogy that Shane Warne would get bowled out if he used the same spin every time. "Be Warnie about it mate," he said.
"I've never had a critique at this level before," Matt said of his session with Mark.

Matt took to the piano for a powerful performance of Thirsty Merc's "20 Good Reasons". When he was done, an audience member threw him a bunch of roses – with a little help from Kyle. Mark commented that, much as he loved it, he would have liked to see more of Matt's face, as he was often looking down at the piano.
Dicko thinks his performances are still all on the same level.  "Next week I want you to come up with a starter, a finale and an encore," he said.
Kyle thought Matt looked upset.
"I couldn't play properly, my fingers were shaking," Matt admitted.
Marcia told him he should use the band more so he doesn't have to worry about anything but singing.

Mark thought at first that Natalie Gauci's song choice may have been beyond her ability to express – but soon realized he was wrong. "She's turned a corner," he said.
"I was so inspired by him, his intensity," Natalie said. "This was pure passion."

Natalie rocks the house with the Divinyls classic "Boys In Town", which she finishes by standing on her piano. The judges all clap wildly and the audience goes wild.
"Mark, that was a sensational job you did with her this week, well done," Dicko said.
"You became an outstanding entertainer in that song," Marcia told her. "That was incredible."
"I've heard the rumours for years that one session with Mark Holden will change you life forever," Kyle joked. "That's exactly what I want to see you from you every week."
"Yowza, yowza, yowza!" yelled a very excited Mark. "Touchdown! That was brilliant!"
"I'm fully shaking right now!" a teary Natalie said.

"It has real meaning, it's something he connects to his mother," Mark said of Marty Simpson's song choice. "It really moved me." Mark was knocked out by his ability to emote, and his phrasing, tone, pitch … "As a recording voice, he is truly, truly excellent," Mark gushed.

Marty, with his trusty guitar, then did a very smooth rendition of Powderfinger's "These Days".
"Great song choice," Marcia said. "It's so nice to see you comfortable."
"I thought the song was really beautiful," said Kyle, admitting that when he saw Mark tear up, he almost had a cry too.
Mark said he was so happy with how far Marty had come. "I'm really proud of you," he said.
"You're probably in the Top 5 despite your performances," Dicko told him. "But that was beautiful."

Tarisai Vushe entered the studio for her mentoring session in a foul mood after hearing someone on the radio say she was fake. "I think the message is clear, it's time for Tarisai to get real," Mark said. Luckily the mood seems to match her angry song choice.

Tarisai, with new straight Beyoncé-style hair, then vamped it up for The Veronica's "When It All Falls Apart", throwing her mic stand to the ground. But the "fake" controversy has only just begun.
"I see the real you," Kyle told her. "Get used to the fact that not everyone is going to like you … you just have to look after the people that like you."
"To me: fake," Mark said. "Brilliantly sung, but I didn't see the rage I saw in the studio."
Tarisai is not happy. "I am not fake and that was not fake," she fumes.
"I'd hate to put the boot in, but I thought that was fake too," Dicko said. "You only hear what you want to hear, we could slag you off and you say, ‘thank you'."
"There's really nothing I can say," Marcia adds.

Carl Riseley admitted he hadn't been in a recording studio before when he met Mark.
"There's so much to this whole music thing than I ever thought there would be," Carl said.
"I didn't appreciate how instinctive he is," Mark admits, saying he can imagine him making a record of his performances.
"I'm a person, as you know, that wasn't convinced," Mark told him. "And you've convinced me.

Carl soldiers through illness for the Little River Band's "Reminiscing".
"It's a genuine pleasure watching you challenge yourself every week, Mark said. "You're a real entertaining entertainer."
"You are one of the absolute joys of this competition," Dicko said. "I know for a fact that there are women waiting for your [concert] dates to come on sale."
"I think you are already one of my favourite artists of the year," Kyle told him. "I enjoy everything you do."

In summary, the judge's were very happy with tonight's performances, but nobody can pick a winner.
 "There are no certainties," Mark said. "Anyone who thinks we know who's going to be at the Opera House – There are no certainties."
As always, there's only one way to save your favourite – get voting!