Singer finds a new path

Former wild child Indira Moala has shed her bad-girl image and is odds-on favourite to take out the NZ Idol title.

After she wowed the judges last week with her rendition of Love Will Lead You Back, online betting agency Centrebet installed the 21-year-old Tongan-born Aucklander as its new $3.50 favourite to win the crown.

The devout Christian and former Auckland Girls Grammar student is enjoying her new-found success and profile, but admits life wasn't always this good.

"It is flattering to have people recognise you. But people's opinions can change.

"I haven't always been Christian. My high school days were very wild and rebellious. I went through that whole teenage thing - drinking, smoking, drugs, silly little things like that," she said.

Eventually she decided it was time to grow up and make the most of her musical talent. But it wasn't until her late teens the accomplished accordion, flute and piano player discovered her real strength was singing.

Now, as well as the schedule of Idol, she teaches music and studies part-time at Auckland University toward a bachelor of music degree. Her goal is a career either as a recording artist or songwriter and composer.

Moala's so busy she hasn't even had time for a boyfriend and also admits that she hasn't met anyone "who has swept me off my feet."

Her immediate goal was to give the Idol brand the "credibility" she said it deserved. The last thing she wanted was to become a one-hit wonder like previous Idol winners Ben Lummis and Rosita Vai.

"I'm not quite sure why they didn't have the success people thought they would - but I'll be looking to change that if I win."

Lummis' Idol-winning single They Can't Take That Away was seven weeks at No 1, selling more than 40,000 copies. His second, I Love You Love Me, failed to make playlists and was shelved.

It was similar for Vai. Her debut single All I Ask spent two weeks at No 1, eventually going platinum, but her debut album Golden only reached number 15.

"I want to raise the standard of Idol. I'm sick of the show being dogged. There is a lot of talent in this competition," she said.

Moala entered the contest because the top prize includes $50,000 cash and a 4WD vehicle. "It certainly makes the whole thing more appealing," she said.

Tonight, Cam, Matt, Becks, Emile, Aroha and Ben battle for a finals spot.