Talay Riley

Alongside Jay Sean and Taio Cruz, English singer/songwriter and producer Talay Riley was at the forefront of the British "futuristic urban pop" scene. Influenced by both the U.K. grime scene and the smooth R&B of Usher and Joe, he wrote his first song at 17. After penning Chipmunk's U.K. number one "Oopsie Daisy" and providing guest vocals for his follow-up Top Ten hit "Look at Me," he signed to Jive Records in 2009 and traveled to L.A. He released his first solo single "Humanoid" in 2010 and his debut mixtape Going to California in 2011; however he found his greatest success as a songwriter for other artists. His credits include songs by Ellie Goulding, Iggy Azalea, Chris Brown, Britney Spears, and Dua Lipa. He was stabbed to death on June 5, 2026.