"He smiles with his eyes" – Nicole Scherzinger reflects on working with Liam Payne on Building the Band

Building the Band is Netflix’s new reality music competition that brings together singers to form bands without ever seeing each other. During a July 21 interview on The View, Nicole Scherzinger—who serves as a lead mentor and judge on the show—spoke about the unique concept and reflected on working with the late Liam Payne, who was also involved in the project.

Scherzinger described the format as a “music version” of Love Is Blind, where participants choose bandmates based solely on vocal chemistry and conversation, not physical appearance.

“It’s nothing artificial, nothing to do with appearance — it’s just off of hearing each other sing,” she explained.

The show also marks one of Liam Payne’s final projects before his passing. Scherzinger shared her thoughts about working with him, saying,

“He smiles with his eyes, it’s like he’s giving you a hug.”

The series honored Payne with a tribute in the first episode. Alongside Scherzinger, the show features Kelly Rowland and AJ McLean, all of whom have experience in successful pop groups. Together, they guide the contestants through the musical experiment that aims to discover authentic vocal harmony and connection through sound alone.

Scherzinger describes format and goals of the show, Building the Band

 

 

 

 

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Nicole Scherzinger described Building the Band as a show where musical connection is the only factor that matters.

“We have these exceptional singers, who actually put themselves in their own bands, but they’ve never seen each other,” she said.

The process is designed to prioritize sound, collaboration, and communication over image. Scherzinger compared it to dating shows, noting, “It’s like Love Is Blind, but it’s for music.” Contestants talk and listen to one another sing without any visual interaction. According to her, this allowed for the creation of bands based solely on “musical compatibility, connection, chemistry.”

She emphasized that the show was structured as a kind of experiment but with real outcomes. “It works,” she said, explaining how powerful the connections became. “That soul connection, heart connection through music is the biggest thing and it pays off.”

She appeared to appreciate how the process let singers focus on artistry.

“It’s such an original concept and it’s awesome to watch it unfold before our eyes,” she said.

The judges’ shared background in music groups helped guide the participants as they navigated this new and unfamiliar audition format.

Payne’s role remembered by cast as Building the Band airs on Netflix

During the interview, Scherzinger spoke about working with Liam Payne on Building the Band, which became his final TV appearance before his passing. She recalled moments from set that highlighted his personality.

“Liam just had such a beautiful, beautiful heart,” she shared.

Sara Haines, one of the hosts of The View, acknowledged Payne’s presence in the series, calling it his “last project.” Scherzinger said she was grateful viewers would get to see him “in his light and in his element, giving back, because he lived it.”

A tribute was included at the start of the first episode. AJ McLean said, “When we came together to film Building the Band, we never imagined we’d soon be saying goodbye to our friend Liam Payne.” He added that Payne’s work as a guest judge showed “his deep love for music and his unwavering commitment to helping others find their voice.”

The series is dedicated to Payne and his family. His appearances throughout later episodes serve as a final reminder of his presence in the music world and the impact he had on fellow artists and audiences alike.

Stay tuned for more updates.