Tensions ran high towards the end of Season 1 of Building The Band. The Netflix reality TV competition sees newly formed bands go head-to-head, vying for the $500k prize money at the end of the season.
In the penultimate episode, the contestants appeared more stressed than ever, anxious about their final performance. It made it all the more perfect timing, then, for them to receive a visit from some very special guests.
The Contestants Were Surprised By Family Members
In Episode 9 of the season, the remaining bands prepare for their final performance, the one that will decide who the winner of the entire competition is. Nerves were running high, and, in order to provide the contestants some encouragement, the producers surprised the cast members with visits from their family members, who snuck up behind them during rehearsals.
Many of the singers were so overwhelmed to see their loved ones that they broke down in happy tears, rushing over and hugging them. For several of the contestants, one or both of their parents paid them a visit, making them feel supported during a time when they needed it most.
One contestant, Shane, a member of Midnight Til Morning, had a FaceTime call with his parents instead. He opened up to the cameras about how much winning the competition would mean not just for him, but for his entire family:
I have a lot at stake. My parents are going through a bunch financially, and we’re super close to losing my childhood house… If I win, there’s gonna be a cash prize which could help us out.
One Contestant Had An Especially Emotional Reaction
One of the participants who was the most surprised by the visit was Aaliyah, a member of mixed-gender group SZN4. In a confessional to the cameras, Aaliyah explained that her mother had been battling breast cancer for the past few years, which meant that she herself had had to take a step back from her musical career to take care of her.
Aaliyah noted how much it meant to see her mother showing up to support her musical ambitions. The two squeezed each other tightly as happy tears ran down her face. In a post on her personal Instagram page, Aaliyah detailed what it was like when her mother was first diagnosed—not just how scary it was for their family, but how strong she knew her parent would be:
It feels so unreal I keep wishing that I would just wake up and this not be mine or my family’s reality but it is. She is a single mom who is the most hardworking, selfless, loving mom I could’ve ever asked for. She has been by my side since day one sacrificing & supporting me trying to make my dreams come true, anyone who knows her knows she would bend over backwards to help anyone💗 God truly knew I couldn’t have done life without her. But her story is not over yet. 💪 She is the STRONGEST person I know and will KICK Breast Cancers booty!
It seems that her mother is faring well enough to be able to travel and support her daughter’s musical career. Though SZN4 did end up placing second in the competition, from the looks of things on social media, the group is still going strong. In fact, just last week, Aaliyah made another Instagram post telling her fans that SZN4’s “pinky promise” to stay together no matter what was still in effect.
Network
Netflix
Cast
Nicole Scherzinger, Kelly Rowland, Liam Payne, AJ McLean
Genre
Reality TV
Premiere Date
July 9, 2025
Building The Band is a music competition reality series that takes a unique approach to forming the next big pop group. Premiering July 9, 2025, on Netflix, the show begins with 50 solo singers auditioning in blind, isolated pods, where they can only hear each other’s voices. Contestants swipe “like” or “pass” as they listen, focusing purely on vocal chemistry rather than looks or personality. From there, selected musicians join forces to form six separate bands, moving through a series of challenges including live performances, songwriting workshops, and branding exercises. The show emphasizes not just vocal talent but also teamwork, versatility, and group cohesion, with the goal of launching a real, fully developed music act by the end of the season.
Guiding the competition is a high-profile judging panel made up of music industry veterans: Nicole Scherzinger, Kelly Rowland, and the late Liam Payne, with hosting duties handled by AJ McLean. Each judge brings personal experience from global groups—Scherzinger from The Pussycat Dolls, Rowland from Destiny’s Child, and Payne from One Direction—offering both critique and hands-on mentorship to the contestants. Their feedback isn’t limited to vocal performance; they also focus on interpersonal dynamics, branding, and long-term career viability. Liam Payne’s participation adds an emotional layer to the series, as Building The Band marks his final project before his passing in 2024. Throughout the show, viewers witness not just the formation of new bands but also honest, often vulnerable conversations about fame, pressure, and what it takes to truly succeed as a collective rather than as a solo act.