British singer-songwriter Talay Riley is dead after a stabbing in East London on Friday, 5 June 2026. He was 35, and had earned a Grammy for writing work with H.E.R., Dua Lipa and Britney Spears.
As reported by Deadline, Riley, born Mark Orabiyi, was found dead by paramedics who responded to an emergency call at a residential property in the Silvertown district of east London. A second person, a man in his 20s, was also found at the scene with injuries that were not considered life-threatening.
Who Talay Riley was
Riley earned a Grammy Award for writing Lights On, the opening track on H.E.R.’s self-titled 2017 debut album, which itself won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Album that year.
The song introduced him to a wide professional audience and established his reputation as a songwriter of considerable commercial instinct.
His credits spanned some of the most recognisable names in contemporary pop and R&B.
Britney Spears recorded his song Clumsy for her 2016 album Glory. He also contributed to records by Dua Lipa, Khalid, Zendaya, Usher and Nick Jonas, placing his work at the centre of a generation’s defining releases.
Riley had been writing and performing since the early 2010s, and despite his success as a collaborator, he maintained his own recording career throughout.
His ability to move between artists across different genres while consistently delivering commercially viable material made him one of the more quietly influential figures in contemporary British songwriting.
The Talay Riley stabbing investigation
Three people were arrested in connection with Riley’s death following the discovery of his body on the morning of 5 June. One of the three was released on bail pending further inquiries.
The other two were released with no further action taken, leaving the investigation ongoing without any confirmed suspects facing charges.
Metropolitan Police officers pronounced Riley dead at the scene. The precise circumstances leading to the stabbing have not been confirmed publicly, and police have not indicated whether any of those originally detained will face formal charges in connection with his death.
His death prompted immediate tributes from across the music industry, with collaborators and admirers acknowledging the scale of his contribution to modern songwriting.
At 35, he had spent more than a decade building a catalogue that extended well beyond any single artist or genre.
What happens next
With the investigation still active and one person formally released on bail pending further inquiries, the Metropolitan Police are expected to make further announcements as the case progresses.
The second victim, who survived the attack, had not made any public statement at the time of publishing.
