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Revealed: Liam Payne left TWO secret albums recorded months before his tragic hotel balcony fall. Insiders tell FRED KELLY what they sound like – and the reason why they may not be released

BBG News

As A J Mclean started the recording of ‘Building The Band’, he didn’t anticipate having to bid farewell to his bandmate Liam Payne so soon.

Sporting numerous tattoos, an earring swinging, a big cross pendant around his neck, and bleached blonde locks, McLean finishes his tribute, saying, “This series is dedicated to Liam and his loved ones.

Following several rounds of anticipation, Netflix’s talent competition Building The Band officially debuted on a Wednesday, approximately nine months after its main guest and judge, Liam Payne (aged 31), tragically passed away by falling from the third-story balcony at CasaSur hotel in Buenos Aires on October 16. This unfortunate event raised questions about the show’s continuation.

In this ten-episode series, fifty aspiring singlers (singers who haven’t worked together before) strive to create bands purely by listening to each other’s voice recordings. Essentially, it’s like a musical version of a blind dating experience.

Despite differing opinions about its unusual structure, the talk around town revolves solely around the participation of Payne in the series.

Although McLean paid homage to him in the initial episode, it’s worth noting that Liam doesn’t make his appearance until further into the series. You can expect the episodes featuring Liam to premiere next week.

In a recent interview, McLean astonishingly disclosed last week that Liam had privately played some unheard-of pieces during filming. He described them as a significant collection of work and expressed his hope that one day, both the world and Liam’s fans will get to enjoy it. According to him, it’s exquisite music indeed.

It has been uncovered today that Liam has been working on two full albums, one of which was jointly created with acclaimed songwriter and producer Jamie Scott. The recording for this album took place in Camden, situated in the northern part of London.

In the past, Scott collaborated with Liam and the other members of One Direction on their hit single “Night Changes” in 2014. This track, which boasts over 2.2 billion streams, makes it One Direction’s most popular song on Spotify.

During the summer of 2024, Liam recorded his unpublished second album, splitting time between Palm Beach, Florida, and Sweden, just prior to jetting off to Manchester for the filming of Building The Band.

The Mail knows that the album likely contains contributions from Liam’s close friends, making it potentially one of the most personal records in his brief career. Details about the album’s content are scarce, but the presence of hit-maker Scott hints at a possible return to the catchy pop anthems reminiscent of Liam’s boyband era.

Following One Direction’s extended break in 2016, Liam launched a series of R&B songs with lower commercial success. Examples include “Strip That Down” and his last single “Teardrops,” which barely made it onto the UK charts, opening at position 85.

There is no indication as to when the public will get to hear Liam’s unreleased music.

On the other hand, someone connected to the production of one of the albums informed the Mail that they had significant talks about unveiling certain songs to match Liam’s performance on the show coming up next week. So far, it seems no clear decision has been reached on this matter.

The source, who remains active in the music industry, acknowledged that any action would need the approval of Liam’s family. It’s clear that this is a delicate matter, and everyone involved wants to ensure they act appropriately and avoid any appearance of impropriety.

In the realm of music production, posthumous albums are quite frequent. For instance, John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s “Milk and Honey” was released in 1984 – four years after the assassination of the former Beatle, John Lennon, in New York. However, the prospect of fresh music from the late Liam Payne carries a sense of unusual importance.

It’s clear that Mail recognizes Liam completed and produced the second of his unpublished albums during the four-month stretch of sobriety he experienced from May to August last year, while residing in a $9,500-per-month apartment in Florida alongside his girlfriend Kate Cassidy.

Previously disclosed here, Liam experienced an overdose in early 2024. Following a brief period at a rehabilitation center, he departed the U.K., accompanied by his longtime friend, Argentine businessman Roger Nores, for Palm Beach.

Earlier this year, Nores shared with me that when they encountered Liam in Florida during the previous summer, he was visibly ill and cold to the touch. He mentioned that he had lost a significant amount of weight, now weighing only 60 kg, equivalent to approximately 20 kg less than before.

However, over the following four months, the star stuck to the straight and narrow.

Nores mentioned that Liam started exercising daily. He seemed to take better care of himself, and after four months, I felt he had made a significant change in his life. This hints at the possibility that the album Liam produced during this period might delve into some of the lingering issues related to the singer’s struggle with substance abuse and addiction, which were part of his life until his unfortunate demise.

Following a span of four sober months, Liam went back to the UK in August for the filming of Building The Band in Manchester. However, as stated by his ex-bodyguard, it was during this time that he resumed using drugs again.

Beyond the puzzle of unpublished albums, Liam’s legacy is shrouded in numerous enigmas. Today, The Mail delves into how the ripples from his death persist, not only in the UK with his posthumous involvement in a talent show, but also in Argentina, where two individuals are imprisoned, awaiting trial for supplying him with illegal class A drugs.

Twenty-five-year-old waiter Braian Paiz and twenty-four-year-old hotel worker Ezequiel Pereyra have been detained since January and could potentially spend up to fifteen years behind bars if convicted at their upcoming trial later this year.

Based on court records obtained by the Mail, it is alleged that Paiz, who crossed paths with Liam while working as a waiter at the high-end Cabana Las Lilas restaurant in Puerto Madero, stands accused of supplying cocaine for money on two different occasions. The first occasion was said to have taken place at the CasaSur hotel, and the second incident occurred at Paiz’s residence in central Buenos Aires.

Paiz consistently claims his innocence, stating that he indeed used drugs with Payne on occasions, but he never provided the illegal substances nor accepted money from the popular artist.

In simple terms, Paiz explained to Argentine journalists from his cell that he feels out of place, despite being a good person. He admitted to sharing drugs with Liam but clarified that he didn’t sell them. His ultimate goal is to return to studying and securing employment upon release, just as he did before his incarceration.

Meanwhile, Pereyra, an employee at CasaSur, is being accused of providing Liam with cocaine on October 15 and October 16 at 3:45 PM, exactly an hour before Liam’s demise. It is alleged that on this tragic day, Liam requested from Pereyra, as heard by a technician who overheard their conversation in the hotel basement, “another seven grams, please,” a claim supported by CCTV footage.

Last week, a friend I met in Argentina not long after Liam’s passing shared with me their belief that Paiz and another individual may have been unfairly blamed by the Argentine legal system.

She remarked that since they aren’t affluent and lack influential connections, it’s unsurprising they remain incarcerated. Despite inquiries made by the Mail, there’s no sign of when this pair will stand trial. Now seven months long, their pre-trial detention continues.

Indeed, Paiz and Pereyra weren’t the only individuals implicated in Liam’s tragic demise. In fact, back in November, this very publication shared a photograph that sent ripples globally—a chilling image of three hotel staff members, visibly carrying an unconscious Liam out of the CasaSur lobby and into an elevator, mere minutes before the star plummeted from the balcony on the third floor.

Next month, Security Head Gilda Martin and Chief Receptionist Esteban Grassi, who had just started at the hotel three months prior, were charged by Judge Laura Bruniard. However, even with worldwide uproar, the duo was found not guilty in February of this year by a panel of three Argentine judges.

The court refused the prosecutor’s request for a retrial, deciding that there was not enough substantial evidence to continue with it.

Liam’s long-term partner, Kate Cassidy, resides in Florida along with their pet dog, Nala, whom Liam had recently taken in prior to their trip to Buenos Aires. It was just a few days before Liam’s passing that Kate chose to part ways with him at the hotel.

Eight months ago today, Kate shared a heartfelt remembrance of Liam on Instagram, expressing it as follows: ‘Today marks the day when I said goodbye to my dearest companion.’

Instead, she turned her focus towards the singer, expressing, “I’m striving to lead my life in the most positive way possible, doing so with you in mind. My longing for you is beyond what language can convey.

It came to light earlier this year that the 26-year-old social media personality, who used to work at a diner and met Liam there, won’t receive any part of his estimated £24.3 million wealth as he failed to write a will, leaving it unclear how his assets would be distributed.

In my advice as a lifestyle expert, I should clarify that instead of directly inheriting the estate, the funds will be allocated to Liam Payne’s eight-year-old son, Bear Grey Payne. It’s worth noting that Cheryl Tweedy, a renowned singer from Girls Aloud, and music industry lawyer Richard Bray have been appointed to manage Liam’s estate in this capacity.

In the meantime, it’s been revealed that Cheryl is set to make her first significant TV appearance after her ex-partner’s passing, as a mentor on the newest season of BBC’s popular music show, The Voice. Notably, this program competes with Building The Band. During this stint, she will reconnect with her old friend Will.i.am, who is one of the founding members of the renowned American group, The Black Eyed Peas.

Liam’s cash, investments, and real estate holdings – his entire estate – won’t be passed down to his father Geoff, stepmother Karen, or his sisters Ruth and Nicola.

Nevertheless, the family continues to play an active role and hold significant interest in the singer’s enduring legacy, as Geoff and Karen both concur that the series “Building The Band” should be broadcasted.

‘This is how we want everyone to remember Liam,’ they said.

As a die-hard fan, I’m thrilled to share some exciting news! Directly from the source, Netflix has announced that my beloved character has been given the green light. Not only did my family watch the series, but they were fully on board with my inclusion in it. What a fantastic turn of events!

A few days ago, Nicola, Liam’s 37-year-old sister, took to social media to express her pride: “Throughout the years, I’ve celebrated numerous accomplishments and significant events as a proud sibling, and I couldn’t be more proud of this show.

Over the last several months, watching this has allowed me/us to maintain a sense of closeness with you and appreciate you at your finest. It’s heartening that others can experience your brilliance as well.

34-year-old Ruth expressed a sentiment much like this: “Liam, you’ve always been and will forever remain a shining star.

I experienced a variety of feelings while watching that, but what stands out most is an endless sense of pride. Each day, my longing for you grows even stronger.

Fans of One Direction will have to hold on a bit longer before they can see their beloved idol on TV again. It is anticipated that the episodes featuring Liam will be made available starting July 16, which marks exactly nine months since the unfortunate passing of the singer.

As we approach the possibility of new music and the upcoming trial for Paiz and Pereyra in Buenos Aires, Building The Band could mark another chapter in Liam Payne’s ongoing saga. However, this development is certainly not the last act in his story.

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2025-07-12 03:08

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