Two Area Artists Featured On "The Voice"

Traverse City singer-songwriter Joshua Davis advanced to the top five of NBC reality competition "The Voice" this week - and he wasn't the only northern Michigan artist featured on the show. Fellow contestant Sawyer Fredericks chose as one of his two song selections Monday night to perform "Shine On" by local songwriter May Erlewine. Erlewine and Davis are both musicians in the Earthwork Music Collective, a group of independent artists supporting original music in Michigan.

"I am honored that Sawyer connected with my song," Erlewine says. "It is the best thing an artist can hope for that their work offers something inspiring and useful to others. 'Shine On' was written to be sung around the world, to support environmental and social justice movements, with an aim to bring encouragement to those in need. This is a really unique situation and I am proud that the song will help represent independent artists on national television."

Davis, who performed U2's "Desire" and The Beatles "In My Life," earned enough votes with his performances to advance Tuesday night to the next stage of the competition. His success means NBC will be on-hand Thursday night to film a free live homecoming concert Davis will give at the State Theatre in downtown Traverse City for an upcoming segment of "The Voice."