Beloved songwriter Talay Riley dies at 35 after East London stabbing

Acclaimed British songwriter Talay Riley has died at the age of 35 after a stabbing in east London, prompting an outpouring of grief from family, friends, and leading figures across the global music industry.

The musician, born Mark Orabiyi, was found with multiple stab wounds on Friday, June 5, in the garden of a property on Rayleigh Road in the Pankhurst Avenue area, according to police.

Despite the efforts of emergency services, he was pronounced dead at the scene.

A second man, believed to be in his 20s, was also injured during the incident and was taken to the hospital. His injuries were not considered life-threatening.

The Metropolitan Police have launched a murder investigation, with detectives from the Specialist Crime Command leading the case.

Authorities said two men, aged 27 and 24, and a 25-year-old woman were arrested near the scene on suspicion of murder.

The 24-year-old man and the woman have since been released with no further action, while the 27-year-old man remains on bail as enquiries continue.

Talay Riley was widely respected in the music industry for his behind-the-scenes work on major international hits spanning pop, R&B, and hip-hop.

His writing credits included tracks for artists such as Dua Lipa, Usher, Craig David, Britney Spears, Chris Brown, Nick Jonas, Khalid, Kehlani, and H.E.R.

He contributed to songs including Khalid’s Young Dumb and Broke, The Chainsmokers’ Who Do You Love, FLO’s Walk Like This, and Kehlani’s Out The Window, as well as H.E.R.’s Grammy-winning self-titled album, where he co-wrote Lights On.

Tributes have poured in following news of his death. His family described him as “a beloved son, brother, uncle, and friend,” remembering his “kindness, beautiful spirit, and remarkable talent.”

“We will always cherish his kindness, beautiful spirit, and remarkable talent,” the family said in a statement. “His presence touched many lives, and his memory will remain in our hearts forever.”

His younger brother, songwriter Scribz Riley (Michael Orabiyi Riley), also shared an emotional message on social media, describing the loss as “a bad dream” and reflecting on their final conversation shortly before his death.

“I never thought the day would come where I’d be writing this,” he wrote, adding that his brother was “a light in so many people’s lives.”

The tragedy has also prompted reactions from fellow artists, including Stormzy, who simply wrote, “I’m sorry bro.”

Detective Chief Inspector Joanna Yorke said the investigation remains ongoing and urged witnesses to come forward.

“This is a tragic incident and my thoughts remain with Mark’s family and loved ones,” she said. “We are particularly interested in hearing from anyone who may have CCTV or footage from the area.”