Nicole Scherzinger Recalls Liam Payne’s ‘Happy Place’ While Working on Building The Band

Nicole Scherzinger recalled the joy that helping people brought to Liam Payne as she discussed working with him on his final project, Building The Band. 

The talent-based reality TV series, which she described as the late singer’s ‘happy place,’ was filmed at a studio in Manchester in August 2024 and released on Netflix July 9.

Liam, who features as a guest judge on the series, tragically died at the aged of 31 after falling from the third-floor balcony of a hotel in Buenos Aires last October. 

Backstreet Boys’ AJ McLean hosts the programme, with Pussycat Doll Nicole as the main mentor and judge, being joined by Liam and Kelly Rowland throughout the process.

In an interview with Billboard, Nicole said it was ‘beautiful’ to be able to see Liam ‘come full circle’ after coming third on the X Factor in 2010 with One Direction. 

She said: ‘I saw the joy it brought to Liam. I felt that this was his happy place. Like myself, AJ and Kelly, we’ve lived this. We’ve learned it.’ 

Nicole Scherzinger recalled the joy that helping people brought to Liam Payne as she discussed working with him on his final project, Building The Band

The talent-based reality TV series, which she described as the late singer’s ‘happy place,’ was filmed at a studio in Manchester in August 2024 and released on Netflix July 9

Nicole continued: ‘To be able to bestow any inspiration and knowledge and wisdom and experience on any of these contestants and these bands, it brought us all joy. Particularly Liam. 

‘I felt this really inspired him and this was his happy place. This was his happy place because Liam was such a beautiful heart, and he loved to give back. He loved to help.’

Building The Band viewers were moved to tears just five minutes into the first episode after Netflix paid a bittersweet tribute to Liam.

Stripped across 10 episodes, fans wondered how the show would address the unexpected death of the singer – especially after reports that there were plans to cut down Liam’s presence in the show. 

However, at the start of the episode, AJ addressed the audience with a powerful message, moving viewers to tears. 

‘When we came together to film building the band we never imagined we’d soon be saying goodbye to our friend Liam Payne,’ he began as it faded out to a series of images and clips of the singer on the show.

He continued: ‘Liam is a guest judge in later episodes, and through his presence, we see his deep love for music and his unwavering commitment to helping others find their voice. It’s through that spirit that we dedicate this series to Liam and his family.’

Liam, who features as a guest judge on the series, tragically died at the aged of 31 after falling from the third-floor balcony of a hotel in Buenos Aires last October 

In an interview with Billboard , Nicole said it was ‘beautiful’ to be able to see Liam ‘come full circle’ after coming third on the X Factor in 2010 with One Direction 

She said: ‘I saw the joy it brought to Liam. I felt that this was his happy place. Like myself, AJ and Kelly, we’ve lived this. We’ve learned it’

At the start of the first episode, host Backstreet Boys’ AJ McLean addressed the audience with a powerful message, moving viewers to tears

During an interview with the Hollywood Reporter last month, AJ described the new series as ‘unlike any other show out there’. 

The American singer then spoke about how he felt looking back on the show since Liam’s death. 

He explained: ‘It was a little hard to watch because I hadn’t seen it until now. I just know that the way he is being remembered and honoured is hopefully done as beautiful as we see it.

‘And we got the okay from his family and I hope that the fans get to remember him the way that he was which is just a light, a genuine spirit.

‘He wore his heart on his sleeve, he’s stupidly talented, funny as all hell, had a great sense of humour and just a joy to work with. This is just a great, positive way for the world to remember him.’

Building The Band is available to stream exclusively on Netflix now.