Building the Band’s Conor Smith’s reality TV past and Harry Styles comparison explained

Conor Smith, one of the standouts on Netflix’s Building the Band, has fans talking because he looks like a dead ringer for Harry Styles and has had reality-TV experience in the past. According to Betches, the tattooed, brooding 22-year-old Australian debuted on The Voice Australia in 2019 and performed songs like Madonna’s “Ray of Light” and Bruce Springsteen’s “I’m on Fire.” His on-screen demeanor gains depth from this past.

On top of having previous TV experience, Conor has been called out for his style similarities to Harry Styles. Fans on TikTok and more have observed that he has long hair, vintage hats, and a fashion sense akin to Styles’ early solo era. One clip that was captioned “Anyone else think Conor … is just a Harry Styles wannabe?” gained more than 62,000 likes, fueling discussion around his aesthetic and performance identity.

But it’s his refusal to inhabit the role of the reality-TV luminary that really secures his stature as a riveting reality‑TV figure. In episodes 5-7 of Building the Band, Conor’s new romance with Alison Ogden threatened to disrupt rehearsals and the peace between him and his bandmates and almost made him want to quit until the band rallied around him. It’s this combination of past credentials, mimicry of style, and on‑show drama that makes Conor someone interesting to keep an eye on in the show.

Who is Conor Smith on Building the Band?

One of the most talked-about competitors on Netflix's new series, Building the Band, is Conor Smith. Conor's presence demands attention, whether it is due to his talents as a singer, his sense of style, or his background in reality television. His rise to fame, however, wasn't quick; it was a combination of previous roles, on-screen conflict, and some surprising parallels to musical royalty.

Conor’s past reality-TV experience on The Voice Australia

Conor was already experimenting with television fame even before he was featured in Building the Band. In 2019, he auditioned for The Voice Australia with Bruce Springsteen's song "I'm on Fire."

One of the judges took notice of his unvarnished, passionate performance, and his unique fusion of soulful energy and indie-rock vocals captivated the audience. Even though he didn't advance to the finals, his time on The Voice provided him with a devoted early following and helped build his stage confidence.

Fans draw comparisons between Conor Smith and Harry Styles

Conor's striking likeness to Harry Styles sparked a lot of online discussion as Building the Band gained popularity. Conor's disheveled locks, retro style, and easygoing demeanor soon led to side-by-side edits and TikToks calling him "Harry 2.0."

Some viewers questioned whether Conor was relying too much on the Styles image, while others enjoyed the retro flair and saw it as homage. In any case, the comparison raised his fame and increased the number of people who saw his performances.

On-screen romance and rehearsal tension with Alison Ogden

The competition's primary focus was music, but Conor's developing relationship with contestant Alison Ogden acquired its own subplot. After charming fans at first, the two's relationship quickly spread to the practice spaces. Conor's absence from a crucial rehearsal, which he attributed to emotional strain in their relationship, heightened tensions.

He even thought about leaving the program at one point. Although he was able to get back on track with the help of Alison and a group intervention, the drama affected the competition for a long time and highlighted concerns about professionalism under duress.

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Watch all the episodes of Building the Band on Netflix.

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