Netflix’s new talent competition Building the Band drops on July 9 — and already, this series about forming the next hot music group feels bittersweet. The series marks One Direction alum Liam Payne’s last project before his death at age 31, with many fans of Payne’s likely tuning in for a glimpse at the late singer.

Netflix's Building the Band premiered with a heartfelt tribute to late judge Liam Payne, featuring his final filmed appearances. Host AJ McLean honored Payne's legacy and announced his posthumous role in upcoming episodes.

Enter: Netflix’s new series Building the Band, which taps into that legacy. Hosted by AJ McLean of Backstreet Boys fame, with Nicole Scherzinger – an OG X Factor judge and recent Tony Award-winner – as a mentor, the format is refreshingly simple: 50 contestants aim to form one of six bands, sight unseen. It’s basically Love Is Blind: The Musical.