So, you’ve probably seen the clips. Or maybe you binged the whole thing in a weekend because, honestly, the concept of a musical Love Is Blind was too weird to pass up. I’m talking about Zach Newbould and his stint on Netflix’s Building the Band.
It’s one of those shows that felt like a fever dream. Fifty singers shoved into pods, unable to see each other, trying to form the next "big thing" based solely on whether their voices sounded good together. No looks. No choreography. Just pure, unadulterated audio. And right in the middle of it was Zach, this 21-year-old kid from Massachusetts with a country-tinged voice that basically stopped everyone in their tracks.
What Really Happened with Zach Building the Band
People get confused about the timeline here. Some think it was a documentary or a solo project, but no—Zach building the band was a very specific, high-stakes reality TV experiment. He walked into that pod and belted out “Beautiful Things” by Benson Boone.
It was a vibe shift.
The judges—Nicole Scherzinger, Kelly Rowland, and the late Liam Payne—were clearly looking for something that didn't feel manufactured. Zach brought that. He eventually ended up in a group called Midnight 'Til Morning with Mason Watts, Conor Smith, and Shane.
The chemistry was weirdly instant. Well, as instant as it can be when you’re talking to a wall. They liked each other's "sonic identity" before they even knew what the others looked like.
The Midnight 'Til Morning Dynamic
Most people expected these bands to fall apart the second the cameras stopped rolling. That’s usually how these shows go, right? You win (or lose), you post a "thanks for the memories" Instagram carousel, and you go back to your day job.
But Zach and the guys actually stayed together. After the show finished filming in Manchester, they didn't just fly home and forget about it. Conor and Mason are actually from Australia, so Zach and Shane ended up heading down under just a few weeks after the finale.
- They spent three months straight in a studio.
- They’ve been teasing a full album.
- The bond actually got tighter after the tragic passing of Liam Payne, who had become a genuine mentor to them during the show.
It’s rare. Usually, these "manufactured" groups have the shelf life of an open gallon of milk. But there’s something about the way Zach helped anchor that group’s sound that made it feel less like a TV gimmick and more like a actual band.
The "Blind" Strategy: Why Zach Stood Out
The whole "sight unseen" thing is a massive gamble. In the music industry, "the look" is usually 70% of the battle. By stripping that away, the show forced people to focus on technical skill. Zach Newbould has that in spades.
He didn't try to over-sing. In a competition where everyone is trying to hit the "shatter-the-glass" high notes to get a "like" from the other pods, Zach kept it grounded. That country flair he has? It acted as a stabilizer for the more pop-heavy voices of his bandmates.
Honestly, if they had met in a bar or a traditional audition, they might not have clicked. Their styles are all over the place. But because they built the foundation on how their harmonies stacked, the rest—the clothes, the hair, the stage presence—became secondary.
Where is Zach Now?
If you’re looking for a "Where Are They Now" update, here's the reality: Zach is still very much in the thick of it. He’s navigating that weird space between being a "reality star" and a "serious musician."
The band, Midnight 'Til Morning, finished in fourth place on the show, but if you look at the engagement data, they’re arguably the breakout stars. While the winning group, 3QUENCY, got the glory, Zach’s group got the cult following.
They’ve been working out of Australia, leaning into a sound that’s a bit more "pop-rock with a soul" than what you might expect. Zach still does his solo thing on the side—you can’t take the solo artist out of a guy who grew up singing country—but the focus is the collective.
Lessons from the Pods
What can we actually learn from Zach’s journey?
- Vocal Compatibility Over Brand: If you’re a musician, stop worrying about your "aesthetic" for five minutes and find people whose frequencies actually complement yours.
- The Post-Show Hustle is Everything: The show ended in 2025. By 2026, most of the contestants have vanished. Zach and his crew stayed relevant because they moved in together and actually made music.
- Mentorship Matters: The influence of Liam Payne on this specific group was huge. They’ve spoken openly about how his advice on navigating boy-band fame changed their perspective.
What’s Next for the Band?
Rumors of a tour have been swirling for months. With an album supposedly "ready to go" according to Mason Watts, it’s only a matter of time before we see if the pod-experiment translates to a live stage.
If you want to follow the journey, keep an eye on their social media—they tend to drop snippets of new tracks without much warning. Zach is still the one to watch; his voice is the "glue" that keeps those four very different personalities from spinning off in separate directions.
Actionable Insights for Aspiring Artists:
- Audit your circle: Are you playing with people who sound good, or people who just look the part?
- Focus on the "Unseen": Record your rehearsals and listen back without watching the video. Does the music stand on its own?
- Lean into your niche: Zach didn't hide his country roots to fit a pop mold; he used them to stand out. Do the same.
