Released July 16, Episode 7 of Netflix’s Building the Band features Liam Payne delivering both playful and warm guidance as he judges musical contestants.
Filmed in September 2024, just weeks before Payne’s death in October at 31, the episode centers on contestants from Midnight ’Til Morning performing the Goo Goo Dolls’ “Iris.”
Payne begins with lighthearted feedback, noting that their stage movements included “running about, waving your arms in the air.”
Later, he joked, “We’re amazing dancers, obviously, in One Direction, it’s what we’re known for,” delivering the line with a tongue-in-cheek grin before illustrating with a deliberately understated hip sway modeled after George Michael, proving that strong presence often trumps choreography.
The tone then shifts to encouragement as Payne tells the performers, “I feel warm,” praising the emotional resonance of their performance and emphasizing chemistry and connection over flashy dance moves.
Throughout the series, Payne appears as a main judge alongside Kelly Rowland and Nicole Scherzinger.
The show was posthumously dedicated to his memory following his fall in October 2024. Building the Band remains his final TV project, extending his legacy of mentorship and musical guidance.