Ebony Riley is Detroit through and through, and now she’s bringing her story home. The Detroit native first rose to fame as a model under the name Riley Montana — walking runways for Marc Jacobs, Bottega Veneta and Dolce & Gabbana, appearing in Vogue, and starring in the Beyoncé x Balmain RENAISSANCE Couture campaign.
But the fashion world wasn’t big enough for her voice. Riley left modeling behind to pursue singing and songwriting full-time, saying music gives her the space for self-expression she didn’t have in fashion. Detroit respects an artist who bets on herself.
The gamble is paying off. Songs like “Only You” — which Billboard picked as an R&B/hip-hop fresh pick of the week after its late-2025 release and which hit No. 15 on the Adult R&B Airplay chart — and “Deuce Deuce,” noted for its smooth vocals and nostalgic-yet-modern vibe, found her a whole new audience.
This April she released her debut album, “Beautiful Tragedy,” a self-reflective project featuring songs like “Sick of Me,” “Honest” and “Too Grown” — plus a collaboration with fellow Detroit native Skilla Baby on “You Better Know.” Two Detroit voices on one record. That’s what this city is about. We’re proud.
Read the full story: https://www.hourdetroit.com/music-topics/ebony-riley-interview-debut-album-modeling-career/
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