Neftlix’s sleeper hit,Building The Band,has been gaining traction over the last few weeks the competition heightened, andits cast including host AJ McLean and judge Kelly Rowland are opening up about making the series, including its shocking finale. With viewers excited aboutBuilding The Band’sexciting competition, the show has been finding success as the season has rolled out.
With host AJ working alongside Kelly, Nicole Scherzinger, and the late Liam Payne to offer judgment, advice, and critical feedback to a group of bands,Building The Bandchanged the way singing competitions look and feel. The show’s contestants, who were grouped together by sound alone, had tofamiliarize themselves with new bandmates quickly before heading into different levels of competition.
As the show continued on,Building The Bandgave viewers an in-depth look at what it’s like to form a band and create those bonds. With groups being eliminated from episode to episode, only a few of the original bands made it to the finale.Several of the finalists and cast were able to sit down with Screen Rant to chatabout the show’s exciting winners.
ICONYX Felt A Quick Connection Upon Meeting In Person & Performing
Originally Soulidified, ICONYX Were The Second Runners-Up
Originally performing as Soulidified,ICONYXconsists of four members: Bradley Rittmann, Landon Boyce, Malik Heard, & Shade. The group shared a quick connection,explaining to Screen Rant that there was barely a learning curvefor them when getting together.
Screen Rant: I want to start with you, Bradley. So,Building The Bandis such a specific concept. What kind of reservations did you have about this process going into the experience, if anything?
Bradley Rittmann: Oh, dang. I mean, obviously, there’s the factor of, you know, fear of the unknown and not really knowing what to expect. I think we all had the same feeling when we stepped into the booths of just not knowing what was going to happen.
We all had no idea what to expect. And so I think, really, just it kind of reflects on how beautifully and it came out and how well it worked out because we all had no idea what to expect. You know, we didn’t know how good we were going to sound.
We didn’t know what the people were going to think of us. We didn’t know what we were going to think of the people singing. And so, yeah, I mean, I think we were all just kind of nervous and like, what’s going on? You know, I’m in a booth. I don’t know what’s going on. You know, there’s no one here. I’m singing. You know, it’s just, yeah, a nerve-wracking experience.
Screen Rant: I can imagine. Malik, let’s go to you next. So what did you use to really assess if you’d be able to work together while you were in the booths when you were hearing someone for the first time? How did you kind of go through that process of like, OK, yeah, I’m going to push my button?
Malik Heard: You know, I’m super - I mean, I would say for all of us - we’re super technical when it comes to this vocal ability. And that’s something, you know, I grew up with powerhouse singers like studying those. I grew up in the church singing. So that was something I was looking for was like, OK, can they be on pitch? Can they do all of those basic things? And then can we do more, you know, more than that? Take it there.
I think all of these guys, their qualities and their tone and their choices was just so amazing and so original. And that’s what I was looking for, because, you know, we want to redefine what a boy band would look like, because obviously we don’t look like your average everyday boy band. Most people like wouldn’t put us together. But I think that that’s what’s so special about the show and this experience.
Screen Rant: I love the just seeing everyone kind of have their own technical knowledge and have their own understanding of what’s going on to put stuff together. Landon, let’s go to you. So coming together, did you feel that there was like a disconnect between what you heard and what you in the booths and what you saw? Or were you just ready to get to work?
Landon Boyce: Yeah, I feel like there’s no disconnect. Honestly, not at all.
Bradley: Not what we were expecting at all.
Landon Boyce: Yeah. I mean, an experiment like this, you would be expecting a disconnect. But I think I got lucky, because we connected perfectly right off the bat. The first day we moved in together, we sat down with the guitar and just started singing a random song. And it felt like we were ready to perform it. Like we I lucked out.
Bradley: Not to mention, we were just cracking up the entire time.
Landon: We were laughing. Chemistry off the roof.
Malik: No, definitely, definitely exceeded our expectations.
Screen Rant: Incredible. Now, Shade, moving into the live performances. How did you guys figure out the best way to really navigate blending your styles? Because obviously, we see some different styles, like someone mentioned earlier, like not the typical boy band.
Shade: We all just really wanted to put our best foot forward. So we were all willing to do whatever it took to make that work. And then as far as the blend, and, you know, figuring that out, we like you said, the first day we got to live with each other, we were singing from the jump.
So you know, we just had a lot of time to really get to know each other’s voices. And we spent time just bonding, just with each other vocally, all that man. So it was pretty easy. And then as far as going in the direction of what performance we want to give and how we want to go on stage, we all talk, we all let each other be heard. So we didn’t have no problems there. And it was just really smooth figuring out, okay, how are we going to do this?
Hearing everybody’s like Landon, I love Landon, because he has so many ideas. And some of them are crazy. But he throws them out. And we love it. Because then some of them are also really good. So it’s like, you know, everybody has a voice, everybody’s heard. And we all use that to come, you know, come up with the best possible show we can give you guys man.
SZN4 Bonded Over Their Difficulties In Building Confidence & Grew Together
They Took Second Place In The Competition
SZN4, a band comprised of Aaliyah Rose, Cameron Goode, Donzell Taggart, & Katie Roeder, connected over their shared insecurity moving into the competition. An incredibly talented core group,the band shared their experiences in creating a sound together.
Screen Rant: Donzell, This is such a specific concept, this show is so specific. What kind of reservations did you have about this process going into the experience?
Donzell Taggart: Oh yeah, it was definitely terrifying. I mean, because singing is my biggest fear still. Like, I don’t know, I love to sing, but it’s still really scary. So I was terrified to go in, but it was perfect that we couldn’t see each other. So I was like, maybe I could just do a little some-some one-two-one-two. But yeah, so it was scary.
Screen Rant: All right, Aaliyah, I want to go to you. What strategies did you use to really assess if you would work well with someone in the booths?
Aaliyah Rose: Honestly, going into it, I had absolutely no strategies other than just like trying to look and see and feel if we had chemistry or not. I was really trying to just gauge like energy and I’m super big on that.
And I instantly knew, like every time I talked to each one of them, like we have chemistry, like we have this energy and there’s something that just when we talk, it’s just like, I don’t know, a spark. So that’s definitely what I was looking for was energy for sure.
Screen Rant: Amazing. I feel like that’s the best way to figure things out. Cameron, I’m curious, when you guys started to come together, really get to know each other, did you feel any kind of disconnect between hearing each other and seeing each other or did it feel like it just clicked right away?
Cameron Goode: Oh, that’s such a good question. Honestly, hearing everyone, first of all, everyone has amazing voices. So I knew no matter what band I was going to be in that I’m going to be a part of this amazing show with amazing, talented vocalists.
But yeah, no, there really wasn’t a disconnect. I think it was just truly because the show was based off that chemistry, regardless of their voices, our personalities just fit so well together. And that was the glue to this band in particular. So yeah, for sure. I think there really wasn’t a disconnect for real. We just clicked so well.
Screen Rant: That kind of leads me to my last question. Katie, on screen, you guys all talked about shared shyness, struggles and that real vulnerability that you guys had. How did that influence your bond? And then how did you guys bring that into your performances?
Katie Roeder: Yeah, I mean, I think just in general, we’re all very emotional singers. We come from emotion with all of our performances. And I think we’ve been doing that like our whole lives.
I think that’s why we connect to music so much. And I think for me, normally, it’s very hard to be that vulnerable with new people. But with them, it was just so easy to just talk about things that I had honestly never talked about with other people. So it was just like a sense of comfort. And then to see that we were also all on the same page and just able to bring that to the performances were just like, honestly, little magical moments that I’m so grateful for.
Building The Band’s Winners, 3QUENCY, Clicked Instantly
The Group Has Built A Wonderful Rapport
As the winners ofBuilding The Band,3QUENCY earned a $500,000 prize, but got so much more in value from finding one another. Working together to build a sound, a style, and a rapport, 3QUENCY’s members, Brianna Mazzola, Nori Royale, & Wennely Quezada,chatted about how quickly they found their mutual voice.
Screen Rant: Okay, I want to start with you first, Nori.Building The Bandis such a specific concept. What reservations, if any, did you have about coming into this experience?
Nori Royale: I feel like for me personally, it was just a lot of firsts for me. Like, this opportunity literally fell in my lap. I took a gap year from college, and I was like, I think I need to focus on singing. So, honestly, they made it so, so, so fun, and I was really grateful for the opportunity. But for me personally, it was a lot of firsts. It was my first time on stage with a live audience that big, and with a live band outside of church. It was just a lot of firsts for me. So, I had some adjusting to do, but overall, it was a great experience.
Wennely Quezada: And I think she did amazing. We all agree for it being her first, killed it.
Brianna Mazzola: If you didn’t know it was her first, I don’t think people would have been able to clock it. Like, had it not been something that we spoke about, because she showed up and showed out every day.
Wennely: Every day.
Brianna: Thank you, that’s so sweet.
Screen Rant: Okay, Wennely, so you have really described yourselves as a sisterhood, not just a band. How does that approach play out when you guys are having either creative disagreements or facing decisions that you might not agree on?
Wennely: I’m going to be so, so honest with you. Not once have we ever had a disagreement.
Nori: No, we don’t play them games. Not once.
Wennely: It’s either one doesn’t like it, we all don’t like it. If one likes it, we’re all going to like it. We all like the same thing. But if something is like, I hate that color.
Brianna: Or I hate the fit.
Wennely: Yes, we’re not doing it, period, and we’re changing it. That’s it. And I think that’s what I appreciate so much about us as a whole is that we’re not just sisterhood, but we look out for each other and we care for each other and we care for each other’s well-being. And if one’s not okay with it, we’re changing it. But yeah, I think that’s what I love about us a lot. No disagreements here! Not a one band, one sound.
Screen Rant: Oh my God, I love that so much. You guys are really like a really tight trio. I love it. Brianna, coming into this whole experience, after being in the booth, did you feel any kind of disconnect in terms of hearing someone and not having seen them before? What did that feel like?
Brianna: You know, I thought I was going to have a lot of disconnect, like putting a face to the voice, because one, I was just trying not to picture anything because I was giving myself any expectation. I feel like I’m going to go out there and still be confused because you’ll envision something else and then it’s just not what it is, or maybe it is. I tried to remove all expectations in terms of what I was going to perceive when everybody walked on stage, and I think that’s what helped me not have the disconnect because I walked out there and it felt like a common thread, from the booths to the stage to seeing each other.
It didn’t feel like anything shifted. If anything, I feel like it intensified. I just was like, oh, I was right. We were right picking each other. It confirmed things more for me than I think it did throw me off.
Host AJ McLean & Judge Kelly Rowland Were Thrilled To Foster New Talent
They Were Excited For Viewers To See The Winners Revealed
Host AJ and judge Kelly were two of the experts with their hands in the making of the groups, helping them form with their own years of expertise. Chatting with both,they shared how they used their years of experience to help shape the next generation.
Screen Rant: So, AJ, I want to start with you.Building The Bandis such a specific concept. What was your gut reaction to hearing about aLove Is Blindstyle singing competition?
AJ McLean: I thought it was genius.
Kelly Rowland: I’m mad I didn’t come up with it.
AJ: Yeah, same. I’m like, dang it, why wasn’t that one of my great epiphanies in life? But it wasn’t. No, it… That’s what really kind of drew me in was it wasn’t like anything else out there as far as music competition shows go where, you know, the judges or mentors are the ones that are putting you together. And then the end game is you get a record deal and you may or may not have an album.
You might just sit up on the shelf and, you know, this is giving the power back to these incredible artists and letting them control their fate, control their destiny based on raw talent, chemistry and compatibility. Kelly has said it so graciously, using their senses and relying on their heart and their gut. And what transpired from that is some incredible bands. And the level of talent on this show is just phenomenal, honestly. I’m not saying I’m a little jealous. I’m a little jealous.
Like, you know, like, good Lord, you guys are just circling around us. But it’s awesome just to watch the kind of growth happen with all these bands in such a short period of time. And the fact that they’re still going strong even after we’re done with the show is a testament to the show. It’s a testament to them as a band. It’s such an awesome thing to be a part of.
Screen Rant: Kelly, both you and AJ, as members of very iconic groups, what do you think is the key to making a group really work on and off stage? Like, we’ve seen that chemistry really build. How do you preserve that?
Kelly: Oh, my goodness. I think experience preserves that, to be honest. You know, you’re going through so many different phases of life and growing, and you know what I mean? You’re all experiencing that at the same time. And who you got? Each other.
You know what I mean? To lean on. So whether it’s like, you know, the music industry part of it, the family part of it, the dynamics that change, all these different dynamics in your life, it keeps the… I mean, as long as there’s communication, of course, involved, and you say how you’re feeling, you know, what kind of place you’re feeling mentally in your body, whatever, I think that it keeps these lines, you know what I mean, of connection really tight between you guys because you’re like, I feel the same way, and this, this, this, this, and this. And it just keeps that chemistry really, really tight. It’s just communicating. It really is communicating.
AJ: It’s our first marriage, honestly. And I think one of the craziest things that I’ve heard, and I never really looked at it this way, any great relationship, people would always assume it’s 50-50. It’s not.
Kelly: No.
AJ: It’s 100 and 100. You’ve got to give each other 100% for it to work. And it takes time, it takes effort.
Kelly: And when that person is not at 100, you have to be willing to pull the percentage that they don’t have. Like, that’s a real thing to have a part of a group. You have to be able to lug your stuff and theirs at the same time.
Screen Rant: Last question for you. Was there a moment that you really felt there was lightning in a bottle seeing it on stage?
Kelly: Yeah, but I can’t say it yet because it’s unfair.
AJ: Yeah. I have to agree. There was a couple that I just assumed was going to be great, and it blew me away. And then there was a couple that I was like, oh, whoa. I was not expecting that from you guys. Yeah. No, there’s going to be some crazy surprises. I’m personally watching the show in real time. Like, I could have seen the whole thing, and I’m like, nope. I want to watch it in real time so I can talk to the fans and be like, oh my God, that was so crazy. Like, you know, it’s been a year since we did this. So, watching it now is just, oh, it’s just, I’m so beyond proud, and it’s just an honor to be a part of such an incredible show and to work with such amazing friends.
