Blackhaine

Blackhaine is the stage name of Tom Heyes, an English experimental musician, rapper and choreographer. Born in Preston and raised in nearby Chorley, he's based in Salford, the city at the centre of most of his work. His stage shows mix noise-heavy rap with choreography that draws on butoh, and he's presented work at Tate Modern, the Centre Pompidou and the Venice Biennale.

He came through with two EPs, And Salford Falls Apart in 2021 and Armour II in 2022, the second featuring Blood Orange and Iceboy Violet. He's also worked with Playboi Carti and played the lead in Moon Under Water, a short film for BBC Film and the BFI.

Saints In The Wethouse, his debut album, came out on 13 November 2026 on XL Recordings. Its twelve tracks are mostly self-produced, with Wraith9, known for his work with EsDeeKid and fakemink, as executive producer, and features from fellow North West artists Rainy Miller, Croww and Space Afrika. The singles "Consumer" and "Northside Needs Me" came out in October. Heyes has said the second was written when he felt everyone was copying him, and it looks back on the unrest in Salford since the 2011 riots.