“This is your week” – The late Liam Payne offers advice to his favourite contestants on Building the Band 

In a touching moment from Netflix's Building the Band, the late Liam Payne shared heartfelt guidance with his favored contestants, Midnight 'Til Morning. The former One Direction member told the group:

"This is your week to really sell it to the room. Do it together, look at each other, reference each other, but then also just be bigger."

Some of Liam Payne's final moments as a TV coach were his counsel to the group on Building the Band.

With well-known judges assisting them, the show tracks up-and-coming artists as they compete to start a new band. As the candidates performed and became better each week, Payne joined Nicole Scherzinger and Kelly Rowland on the panel to provide them with actual industry advice.

The episode of Building the Band, which aired on 23rd July, showed how close Liam Payne grew to the four athletes he coached. His own early days on The X Factor, when One Direction first formed in 2010, clearly had an impact on his teaching style.

Just a few months after filming was finished, Payne died in Buenos Aires in October 2024 at the age of 31. His appearance on the show now has even greater significance since it offers fans of his a final glimpse of his passion for music and his sincere commitment to assisting upcoming musicians in discovering their own voices.

How did Midnight ‘Til Morning fare on Building the Band, under Liam Payne?

Liam Payne developed a clear fondness for Midnight 'Til Morning throughout the competition. The band consists of Conor Smith, Mason Watts, Shane Appell, and Zach Newbould. Member Conor Smith expressed their appreciation for having a former One Direction star as their mentor.

"Having a One Direction boy there, I want him to see the potential that we have the most because he's who we connect with the most," Smith revealed during a confessional segment.

This connection became evident when Payne entered their rehearsal space with encouraging words. His emotional investment in their success was clear throughout their interactions, especially when he admitted to having a soft spot for them.

Midnight 'Til Morning chose to perform Post Malone's "Circles" for their semi-final showcase. Newbould explained that the band connected with the song immediately upon hearing it. Following their performance, Payne offered praise mixed with constructive observations. He drew parallels between Midnight 'Til Morning and his own One Direction experience.

"You remind me a lot of what we were when we were on the show," he told the contestants, referencing The X Factor journey.

Payne acknowledged the challenges they faced against other talented competitors. He noted the difficulty of competing against performers with elaborate choreography and vocal techniques. However, he praised their authentic energy and genuine enjoyment of performing together.

Despite Payne's support, Midnight 'Til Morning found themselves in the bottom two alongside Soulidified. The elimination decision fell to the three judges: Payne, Scherzinger, and Rowland. This placement created tension, given Payne's obvious preference for the group.

The judges ultimately chose Soulidified to advance to the finale. This decision meant Midnight 'Til Morning's journey ended despite their mentor's encouragement and belief in their potential. The elimination highlighted the competitive nature of the show and the difficult choices judges must make.

AJ McLean’s tribute to Liam Payne

AJ McLean of the Backstreet Boys talked candidly about his friendship with Liam Payne during the Building the Band movie shoot, stating that the two grew close while working together. They discussed everything from sobriety to music to life in general.

McLean also shared that Payne let him listen to some unreleased tracks during downtime, calling the music “insane” and hoping fans will get to hear it someday. Even while mentoring others, Payne clearly hadn’t stopped creating.

Liam’s time on Building the Band really showed how much he cared about helping new talent shine. His coaching style was a mix of industry smarts and genuine support for the contestants. Since this show marks his last TV appearance, fans get a real look at who he was behind the scenes.

Before they were removed, he gave the group Midnight 'Til Morning some particular advice. As someone who has experienced everything, his comments likely meant a lot. The performance now serves as an homage to his love of music and his role as a mentor to upcoming artists.

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Building the Band Season 1 is streaming exclusively on Netflix.