Liam Payne’s final big project and Netflix show before his death

Liam Payne had finished filming a new Netflix show Building the Band — just two months before the former One Direction star’s death.

Aged 31, the Teardrops hitmaker died of multiple traumas as a result of falling from his hotel balcony in Buenos Aires in Argentina. At the time of his death Payne had multiple drugs in his system, according to an initial toxicology report.

Building the Band would become the last major project Payne worked on before his death.

It was billed as the Love Is Blind meets music: where musicians form a pop group without ever having met face to face. Building the Band would answer the question on whether musicians could find their perfect bandmates solely based on musical compatibility, connection, and, most importantly, merit without having ever met in real life?

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Liam Payne’s final project

Payne was one of the judges on the Netflix show alongside old friend Nicole Scherzinger as well as Destiny’s Child star Kelly Rowland while AJ McLean of The Backstreet Boys hosted it.

Having been in One Direction, one of the biggest boybands in the world, Payne was a great get for the show. The three judges were chosen to host the music show because of their “unparalleled expertise and personal band experience to the competition”, according to Netflix.

Netflix had teased: “As for the contestants, they’ll be in complete control every step of the way, but is chemistry enough to make them a success? And when the bands finally do meet, how will looks, choreography, and style come into play? Expect plenty of drama, next-level artistry, and unforgettable performances.”

In August, Rowland had enthused about how much fun she had getting to know Payne. “Liam is absolutely hilarious. I didn’t know how funny he was, so I’m getting to know him, and he is so cool,” she told PEOPLE magazine.

Executive producer Cat Lawson had said of the show: “Building The Band is a brave and bold undertaking for all involved as we hand over power to the singers themselves to form their own band based on chemistry first. With looks out of the equation, can they create a deeper connection with their bandmates?

“With limited bands, there are difficult decisions and heart-stopping moments along the way, but ultimately the outcome is truly amazing, with bands forming who in my opinion are worthy of the very biggest stage!”

After Payne’s death, McLean said the judges and himself had become close after filming over a six-week period. The Building the Band host said Payne was “very funny” and a “sweetheart” and a “light” while working together.

What happened to Building the Band?

The series wrapped with three live shows held at Aviva Studios in Manchester, England, with a live audience in August. Payne fans who had attended the show shared their excitement over meeting him on social media.

Among them, one fan wrote: “Friday night was the best, Liam was so sweet, it was amazing to meet him again after so many years.”

Someone else said: “Meeting Liam last night was the best thing ever!! he is the most sweetest angel! he signed my bracelet and we talked, I gave him my Teardrops bracelet which he wore the entire night! he held my hand and gave me his most precious smile l I’ll never forget! I love You Li.”

As the future of the show remains uncertain, Yahoo has reached out to its representatives for further comment.

Nicole Scherzinger’s tribute Liam Payne

Having just finished working together on the project, Scherzinger told Billboard that Payne had been texting her earlier on the day he died.

Their friendship and work relationship goes way back to Payne’s first taste of fame on The X Factor in 2010 when Scherzinger was a judge on The X Factor. The singer shot to fame as part of One Direction — also made up of Zayn Malik, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson and Niall Horan who was the last member of the band to see Payne alive in Argentina.

They had all auditioned separately but were put together as a group which Simon Cowell has since claimed was his idea. Scherzinger was on The X Factor panel when they were put together while One Direction didn’t win the show, they became one of the biggest X Factor success stories.

The Pussycat Dolls star also paid loving tribute to the late star on her Instagram. With her kind words, she shared two fun behind-the-scenes photos of working together on their latest project Building the Band.

She wrote: “Dear Liam, I will forever cherish and treasure the time we shared together, from fifteen years ago when One Direction was born, right up until just a few weeks ago. It was such a blessing to get to work with you recently. We shared the same love and passion for music and I will forever remember the meaningful and joyful conversations we had.

“It’s been so hard to process that you’re no longer here, but I am grateful to have known your kind heart, sweet soul and character. You brought so much joy, light, and laughter to the lives of those that truly knew you. I will “miss you” my friend and carry you in my heart. My thoughts and prayers are with your family.”