Haines played gigs with Joel across New Zealand, before moving to New York City in 1991 to study jazz music.

His first release was a co-written 12-inch single on Metalheadz with drum and bass producer Jason Cambridge (DJ name A-Sides) in 1997.

In 2000, his first UK based solo record Sound Travels, produced by Phil Asher was released on the now defunct UK label Chillifunk Records, and in 2003 the follow-up Squire for Hire was released featuring Marlena Shaw, Damon Albarn, Vanessa Freeman, Rich Medina, keyboardists Kaidi Thatham, Mike Patto, Mark de Clive Lowe, and many others, and was certified gold for album sales in New Zealand.

New Zealand-based albums since 2005 have included Life Time, recorded with the 100-piece New Zealand Symphony Orchestra with arrangements by ex-pat US based Alan Broadbent, Right Now produced with Chris Cox and released in the UK on Freestyle Records and featuring vocalists Marlena Shaw and Ty, and Heaven and Earth.

It was released in New Zealand in November 2014 on both CD, download and vinyl formats and features vocalists Vanessa Freeman, Kevin Mark Trail with Mike and Nathan on recording and production duties with drum programming from 4hero producer Marc Mac.