AJ McLean Teases ‘Building the Band’ First Look After Liam Payne’s Death

Fans finally got a first glimpse at Netflix’s upcoming series, Building the Band.

AJ McLean unveiled a first look at the show on Saturday, May 31, at Netflix’s Tudum live event. The show marks Liam Payne’s final project before his sudden death in October 2024 at age 31.

Teasing the series, McLean, who is set to host the show, said it’s “unlike anything you have ever seen before — trust me.”

The Backstreet Boys member, 47, then added: “Today’s most talented singers in the world will audition for each other and choose their own bandmates before ever seeing them. Our judge and mentor, Nicole Scherzinger, and guest judges Kelly Rowland and the late Liam Payne, are from some of the biggest bands of all time. This show is all about one word: chemistry. And believe me: in a band, you really need some good chemistry.”

In the sneak peek, the singers arrive at the studio and head into their respective booths, where they get a chance to meet other artists and hear their respective music styles. Right off the bat, they get talking about the importance of chemistry and the difficulty of finding bandmates without seeing each other first.

“I have a specific kind of group in my head, specifically a girl group,” one woman says.

As they sit in the booth and listen to each other’s performances, the singers are moved to tears and chills by each other’s voices. “I wanna see these people so bad,” one man says.

In the final moments of the teaser, the singers click a button — similar to the style of The Voice — if they’re interested in teaming up with the singers.

Building the Band was announced in August 2024, and filming kicked off that summer.

“The singers are in complete control as they seek to form their very own bands in individual ‘booths’ without ever seeing each other. All they have to go on is musical compatibility, connection, chemistry and merit,” a synopsis for the show reads. “What will happen when the bands finally meet, and looks, choreography, and style come into play? With incredible performances, compelling drama, and one big goal — to find the next great music band — the stage is set for an unforgettable experience.”

However, just a few months later after filming wrapped, Payne tragically died in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The former One Direction star fell from a balcony at his hotel. It was later confirmed he died of “polytrauma,” which means multiple injuries that involve multiple organs or systems, according to the National Library of Medicine.

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Following his death, a source told PEOPLE that the series’ producers were shocked and saddened by the loss of Payne. On May 14, 2025, Netflix confirmed the show will air as planned, and feature Payne posthumously.

PEOPLE’s source indicated that the “Strip That Down” singer had no behavioral issues during filming, and that there were zero issues on set with the star. In fact, the source added that Payne was so fulfilled by his experience on Building the Band that he wanted to continue working with the bands after production ended.

McLean echoed those sentiments during a panel at 90s Con in Hartford, Conn. in March 2025.

“The very last thing Liam did was work on this amazing TV show for Netflix called Building the Band, which will be out this summer. And we’re dedicating the show to him,” McLean said at the time. “I got to really know him on a personal level and we had a lot of very similar life experiences, both in sobriety and out of sobriety.”

He also paid tribute to Payne in a tribute following his death, revealing that they “became very close almost immediately and shared so many stories , laughs, and life experiences.”

“You were such a light an incredible person to be in the presence of daily while we worked together! I cannot believe you are gone,” McLean added.