While working on Building the Band, Liam Payne got a sweet reminder of his One Direction days.
In the ninth episode of the Netflix reality show, which dropped on Wednesday, July 23, the “Strip That Down” singer offered some sound advice to Midnight ‘Til Morning ahead of their semi-finals performance.
“Having a One Direction boy there, I want him to see the potential that we have the most because he’s who we connect with the most,” member Conor Smith said in a confessional, before Payne walked into their rehearsal room.
“You’re all going to be on separate stages this week. But I need to feel that connection between you guys. And you need to make that stage your own,” said Payne, who tragically died in Buenos Aires, Argentina a few months after filming in October at age 31.
“This is your week to really sell it to the room. Do it together, look at each other, reference each other, but then also just be bigger,” the late artist to the band, which also includes members Mason Watts, Shane Appell, and Zach Newbould. “I’ve got a soft spot for you guys. Don’t let me down.”
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Zach Newbould, Shane Appell, Conor Smith and Mason Watts of Midnight ‘Til Morning
The band went on to perform a cover of Post Malone’s “Circles,” which Newbould said they “connected with” right away.
After the performance, Payne reinstated his feelings for the band: “I’ve got a very big soft spot for you boys.”
“You remind me a lot of what we were when we were on the show,” he said of One Direction, which formed on the UK’s The X Factor in 2010.
“It’s been tough for you guys because there’s a lot of strong singers on this show that have got a lot of tricks, a lot of trills, a lot going on and a lot of choreography and it’s hard. But the energy in here tonight is the happiest I’ve seen you guys,” he said. “You look like you’re loving what you’re doing and the relationship between all of you was perfect. It was really nice to spend time with you guys earlier and you did everything perfect.”
After the performances, Midnight ‘Til Morning ended up in the bottom two with Soulidified — and the decision on who moves on was left to the judges.
Ultimately, Payne, Nicole Scherzinger and Kelly Rowland chose Soulidified to move forward to finale.
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Mason Watts, Conor Smith, Shane Appell and Zach Newbould of Midnight ‘Til Morning
Speaking with PEOPLE ahead of the show’s premiere, host AJ McLean said he developed a close friendship with Payne over the course of filming.
“We’ve known each other over the years since One D started, but this was probably the most lengthy time that we’ve ever really been in the same room talking about everything from music to sobriety to life,” said McLean, 47.
He added, “He hit me up when we had a few days off from shooting and sent me what would’ve been his most recent solo album, just to ask my opinion on the music… And I thought it was an insane body of work. It was so good. I hope somewhere down the road, somehow people get to hear it, especially all the One D fans.”
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