There have been some incredible success stories that come out of singing competitions, and a new one is just days away from premiering. Netflix’s Building the Band premieres July 9, and it’s not your typical competition; the streaming service is mixing talent with shows like Love Is Blind.
In the upcoming series, contestants won't see each other at first. Instead, they'll pick their bandmates based on voice, vibe, and musical chemistry alone.
It's also the late Liam Payne's final project. He filmed Building the Band before his passing in October 2024, and his family gave the green light for the release. He appears as a guest judge with Kelly Rowland, and “star mentor and judge” Nicole Scherzinger, and AJ McLean (who also hosts).
There are 44 artists under 30, and there is thankfully a diverse crowd, with some talented singers with Latin roots. Here's who to keep an eye on that will be representing the culture.
Alexandra Starr
Alexandra is a Puerto Rican songstress who’s chased her dreams through street performances and emotional social media videos. A pop singer who also plays guitar, she brings passion to everything she does.
Christian Kirk
Per US Weekly, Christian is Mexican-American. The sultry singer has been chasing his dreams for years, releasing his debut EP in May 2018 and sharing his voice through social media.
Gabriella Lora
Gabriella comes from a big Dominican family and channels her roots through merengue covers of Billie Eilish and Spanglish remixes. Inspired by Adele, her upbringing shapes her musical style.
Chance Pérez
Chance has Native American and Mexican roots. A singer and father, he built a solid following on social media and appeared on America's Got Talent in 2016 with his band The WVKE. He blends pop with love ballads and draws comparisons to Joe Jonas.
Wennely Quezada
Another Dominican artist, Wennely, is inspired by the one and only Selena Quintanilla. The singer-songwriter and model has over 200k TikTok followers, where she shares stunning performances in Spanish and English.
Katie Roeder
Katie has Ecuadorian roots and speaks fluent Spanish. The model, dancer, and singer is a proud curvy queen and true triple threat.
Haley Gosserand
Haley is an American singer and actor with South Korean, French, and Mexican roots. The 21-year-old has a powerful voice and also plays the piano.
Episodes will be released in waves: four on July 9, three more on July 16, and the final three on July 23.