Simply months earlier than Liam Payne died on the age of 31 in October 2024, he filmed what would turn out to be his remaining undertaking. The One Route singer served as a mentor and visitor decide on Netflix’s new sequence Constructing the Band alongside Nicole Scherzinger and Kelly Rowland.
Backstreet Boys star AJ McLean hosts the brand new sequence, which begins with the primary 4 episodes premiering on Wednesday, July 9, and he tells TV Insider that he shaped a detailed relationship with Payne whereas they have been working collectively.
“A number of our previous lives have been very mirrored, regardless that there’s an age hole, it doesn’t actually matter,” McLean explains. “We sort of lived very related paths, sort of that uncomfortableness in our personal pores and skin, however feeling protected once we’re on stage and once we’re doing what we like to do. He was simply an absolute sweetheart.”
McLean additionally says the present will assist cement Payne’s legacy, including, “I hope that for his followers and for his household that individuals take away from this who he really was. He was a light-weight that lit up each room he walked into. He was so gifted exterior of being a member of one of many greatest teams of the world. As a solo artist, as a songwriter, as a producer. He wore his coronary heart on his sleeve. … All of us acquired to see him for who he really was and we acquired to expertise the very best of him, and I hope what everybody takes from this present is the very best model of him as a result of that’s what you’ll see.”
Payne’s household supported Netflix’s resolution to air the present in its entirety, which McLean admits was “very, very, crucial” to everybody engaged on the sequence. “He was represented precisely because the particular person he was and a really optimistic gentle for everybody to see,” McLean reiterates. “We’re very grateful to his household and to his followers for permitting that to occur. I do consider even should you weren’t a fan of One Route, you may be a fan of Liam, and doubtless One Route, after watching this present. You’ll get to see such a glowing gentle of positivity and pleasure and expertise.”
Courtesy of Netflix
Learn on for extra from our interview with the host.
What attracted you to this present?
AJ McLean: I had a blast. This present really units itself aside from any and each different music competitors present. Not solely on the epicenter that these children don’t even get to see one another after they put themselves collectively, however I like the truth that they’re those doing it. It’s giving the ability again to the artist, and with a money prize. None of this “go straight to a label” deal and being in a field and probably being placed on a shelf. I hate to say it, however 9 instances out of 10, winners of different exhibits, you by no means hear about them anymore. This present provides everyone a second and, for my part, everybody’s a winner. There was an excessive amount of expertise. We actually have set the bar very excessive. I used to be speaking to my line producer final month and I’m like, “God prepared we do a Season 2, how the hell can we prime ourselves?” There’s a lot expertise on the market. It is a nice alternative for them to actually be seen and shine. Like I mentioned, it simply occurred organically, and it was a dream come true. I had the very best time.
You do have the powerful job of getting to inform individuals after they aren’t going by way of, as properly. How did you navigate that?
Not a fan of that. I’m a really non-confrontational sort of particular person. We just lately needed to let go of anyone in our world, and I’m like, “Can I not be right here when that occurs? I’ll return to my resort room. Inform me the way it goes tomorrow. I don’t need to be a part of it.” It sucks, clearly, however I believe additionally the way in which that all the pieces is worded and scripted comes throughout, in addition to the workforce letting me add my very own persona to the wording, actually … I attempt to make it as comforting as potential and as inspiring as potential. Simply being as compassionate as potential and hopefully, God prepared, even when a band doesn’t make it by way of, they keep a band. I’ve stayed in contact with plenty of these artists since we wrapped up filming, and plenty of them are nonetheless trucking alongside as a gaggle. A few of them are sort of stepping out, attempting various things, however in the end, they’re nonetheless working as a unit and being very supportive of each other. Nobody likes to be that man, ya know?
It’s been some time since there’s been a brand new band that’s been capable of get away. Do you assume the winner of the present has endurance?
I do, really. So long as they need it, primary, and so they proceed to have the identical work ethic that that they had on the present. I believe everyone actually got here to play and got here to win, and once more, in my sincere opinion, everyone’s a winner on the present. They actually introduced it, and I do consider that the winner has potential to have a prolonged profession, so long as they hold the chemistry alive, they hold the communication, and so they know their place. Which means, you being in a gaggle, you be taught over time the place you excel and the place you perhaps don’t and also you be taught your home. Let’s face it, all of those contestants are and have been solo artists previous to. Say with us – we have been all people doing theater and movie and TV or singing, no matter, however there isn’t any solo artist in a gaggle, and that’s one other factor I beloved about every of those teams. They gave one another an opportunity to shine. In a gaggle of 4, there wasn’t two that stood out and the opposite two have been background. Everybody had a second to shine and everyone killed it. Clearly, nerves stepped in as you bought nearer to the tip and we needed to up the ante, and we had a pair twists within the present. I used to be a little bit shocked. Truly, I used to be sort of lots shocked that there was no five-piece. That was a shocker for me. Once more, it labored for us. It labored for One Route. The Beatles have been 4. Boyz II Males have been 4, then three. Future’s Little one was 4, then three. So no matter makes essentially the most sense and works for you as a gaggle, that’s what works.
Inform me a little bit bit concerning the position Nicole, Kelly, and Liam performed as mentors and judges.
Look, you bought the highest brass so far as mentors/judges, if you’ll, from three of the most important teams on the planet. What I like a lot about their cadence with these teams was all their criticism was by no means destructive. It was at all times constructive, it was at all times inspiring, it was at all times brutally sincere, however sincere in a non-condescending method that wouldn’t take the group’s morale down. You see that in different exhibits typically the place a number of the judges generally is a little harsh, after which the group’s morale goes down, then they’re overthinking s**t. Then after they come again for the following week, they’re not the identical. They’re considering an excessive amount of, they’re not simply being who they’re. I believe all three of them actually have been very well-spoken and really articulate. Sure, there was a script to a sure diploma, however then it was like, “That is simply the topic. Go.” Not a single one among them was studying off a prompter. They have been coming proper off the sleeve, proper from the center, and I believed that was nice. You actually acquired to see how emphatic they have been for all of those artists.
What are you most excited for individuals to see on the present?
I’m excited for individuals to see, apart from the God given expertise that every one these people have, a distinct strategy on how bands are put collectively and that it actually relies on chemistry, compatibility, and expertise. The truth that they don’t get to see one another, I believe, is actually cool. I acquired to be there in actual time and sort of watch the entire course of, so to be on set the day they really met one another for the primary time, like, I acquired chills. I acquired emotional. A few of them couldn’t even get the phrases out after they sang with one another as a result of they have been simply so excited they acquired to lastly meet their bandmate for the primary time. I believe individuals are going to actually have a curler coaster of feelings watching this present. Individuals are clearly going to select favorites and are gonna be rooting for his or her favourite group. There’s going to be some twists and turns, a pair curveballs, however I actually consider we’d like extra exhibits like this. I believe this can be a one-of-a-kind present. It’s a one-of-a-kind idea that really provides the ability again to the artist. Even successful a money prize and never being caught going to a serious label and put in a field and instructed how one can gown and what songs to sing … these superb bands get to manage their very own future, and I believe that’s so inspiring to different teams who’re shaped off the present that is perhaps struggling and attempting to determine it out. Right here’s an ideal alternative to be impressed.
Constructing the Band, Episodes 1-4, Wednesday, July 9, Netflix
Constructing the Band, Episodes 5-7, Wednesday, July 16, Netflix
Constructing the Band, Episodes 8-10, Wednesday, July 23, Netflix