KEY POINTS:
After surviving what he calls the "peaks and troughs" of his career in his 20s, jazz musician Nathan Haines says he is thankful to have a place in music.
Haines, 35, released his sixth solo album, Right Now, last month and says he has a better philosophy on life.
"I went to London and dedicated my whole life to it [music] but it's funny because I get more done now.
"I'm more productive because I'm able to let those things go."
Critically acclaimed saxophonist Haines is one of New Zealand's foremost jazz musicians, with a style described as a fusion of jazz and modern dance music.
Classically trained on the flute and saxophone, Haines moved to New York in 1991 to study jazz.
His first solo album, Shift Left, in 1994 became New Zealand's highest selling jazz record, until surpassed by his album Squire for Hire.
In 1995 he moved to London and began what he calls an all-consuming exploration of his music. It's a way of life he is in no hurry to return to.
After returning to New Zealand almost two years ago, Haines says he didn't know what he wanted to do but has now found his focus.
"It hasn't all been plain sailing and easy, as all of our lives aren't, we've all had ups and downs.
"The more I work and the people I work with now, have an enormous amount of goodwill and faith and support in each other.
"That's how great albums get made."
After making an album with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Haines started working on Right Now in collaboration with London-based Vanessa Freeman and Mike Patto.
"When you look back and read and talk to musicians who have had long careers the highlights - the big parts they really remember - are those collaborations."
Haines values those collaborations and says he could never do anything by himself.
He has also set up his own record label, another key move in his career.
"I was so used to being signed to a label and being very business-focused. That's all changed in the past five years."
After completing his last album in Britain in 2003 he saw the music industry "going slowly, slowly down. Since then so many bands and artists are doing it themselves, paying for things themselves.
"For someone like me who is still quite underground, or 99 per cent of musicians out there, they're not getting the sales to justify the big advances.
"What happens is that you end up owing the record company a lot of money and then you're a slave to the record company."
Haines says he does not harbour a desire to be mainstream, preferring to think of his work as music for grown-ups.
"The sort of music we make might take a few more listens to get into. We're not really teen or youth-based."
But he says it's not his concern how other people perceive his work and music.
"You can get really caught up with that and ultimately it doesn't lead anywhere.
"I find it very humbling when people come up to me and say they love my music."
While managing to find that elusive work-life balance, Haines says music is clearly still a central part of his life.
"But I will not let my musicianship or career define me as a human being.
"I am quite happy to be able to switch that off and also that allows me to stand back from how people might perceive me or my name in the media."
Haines says he is now more adept at enjoying what he calls the "smaller things in life".
"I always had a great ear as a kid, a lot of technique as a kid and I sort of spent my 20s doing exactly that thing, living through that.
"I just got to a place where it wasn't working for me so I investigated other things.
"Now I know the life philosophy I have with my friends is basically just do the work and be thankful to whatever your beliefs are, just be thankful you have a place in music.
"Don't take it for granted, you have to really look after that talent you have."
Haines, who lives on the beach on Auckland's North Shore, says he knows how important it is to switch off and not feel hard done by.
"There have been difficult peaks and troughs, obviously, but I wake up every day and I don't think 'I'm really grateful to be a musician'. I think 'right, let's just get to work' because that's what I know and I know that it works for me."
Before becoming a full-time musician Haines worked as a journalist, spending two years at Sunday News from 1989 to 1991.
The parallels between music and writing are clear, he says.
"Every time I read a work of fiction it seems so difficult and every time I read a book and get taken away by the story I think it's such an amazing gift and discipline, to dream it up and see it through.
"As a writer you can't just sit there and it all flows out. There must be an incredible amount of pure work and having to get yourself into that frame of mind.
"You can't sit there and expect to be really creative, I know it doesn't work like that."
Another role which has not come easily has been that of band leader, or "captain of the ship", as Haines calls it.
"When you're working with musicians who are a lot older and more experienced than you it can be difficult. I'm learning slowly on that front."
Haines says he doesn't know how or why but people continue to want to work with him and want to play his songs.
"I am surprised, I'm thankful that people want to be part of how I hear things, in my limited knowledge."
- NZPA
Lowdown
* Who: Nathan Haines.
* Where and when: The Matiatia, Waiheke Island, Sat Jan 26; Astrolabe, Mt Maunganui, Sun Jan 27; Leigh Sawmill Cafe, Fri Feb 1; Groove in the Park, Western Springs, Wednesday February 6 (Waitangi Day); Montecristo Bar, Friday Feb 15.
* Also: Album Right Now is out now.
