Disco Fevers to Chart Leaders: A Chat with LF SYSTEM

Scottish electronic music duo LF SYSTEM, comprising Conor Larkman and Sean Finnigan, has made a meteoric rise from the club scene of Edinburgh to dominating the UK charts with their unique blend of disco-infused house music. Since joining forces in 2019, they've transitioned from local underground gigs to performing at some of the world's most renowned festivals and venues, including Boiler Room, Amnesia, One Out Festival, Hideout Festival, Day Trip LA, Fisher Presents, Mau P's backyard, and the illustrious Tomorrowland.

Their breakthrough track, "Afraid to Feel," which cleverly samples Silk’s 1979 hit, catapulted them to the top of the UK charts, marking a significant milestone as the first UK dance number one since 2020. This success was not just a high point but a turning point, shifting them from working day jobs to touring globally, showcasing their robust ability to blend classic and contemporary sounds that resonate across generations of dance music enthusiasts. This track became a summer anthem, transcending genres and amassing close to 425 million streams.

In an exclusive interview with LF SYSTEM, we delve into their musical journey, exploring the roots of their partnership, their artistic process, and how they handle the newfound pressures of fame. They also share personal anecdotes and future aspirations, giving fans an intimate glimpse into the minds behind the grooves. Stay tuned as we uncover the drive, the dynamics, and the down-to-earth nature of one of the most exciting acts in today’s electronic music scene.

How did your musical partnership begin, and what initially brought you two together?

We first crossed paths playing football against each other as young teenagers but didn’t really know each other. It wasn’t until a bit later in life when we started going to clubs around age 17 that we bumped into each other, the first place being The Arches in Glasgow. We got talking about music, DJing, and production as we had both been doing it separately, and things just rolled on from there.

We got involved in a DJ collective in Edinburgh playing back-to-back sets, started going to each other's houses to make music, and then decided to join forces in 2019 and create LF SYSTEM.

Can you describe the moment you realized that LF SYSTEM was going to be more than just a side project?

We always had this belief that it could be more than just a hobby one day. It was probably around the time we started getting radio play quite frequently that it became more of a reality.

What inspired you to blend disco with modern house music in your tracks?

We’re both big disco, funk, and soul fans, and also fans of artists who were sampling these records, e.g., the French Touch era. We wanted to try and create what we were listening to, and it felt natural to be doing it with music we loved too.

How do you balance respecting the original artists when sampling classics for your new tracks?

We find this a very important part of sampling. We make sure we do our research and find out everything we can about the artist/band and the records. We also respect where the music came from and why it was made. And of course, we always credit and do things legally so the original artists get their fair share.

"Afraid to Feel" has been a massive success. Can you walk us through the process of creating this track?

The first idea came from a sort of slow disco edit, just messing around with it, and it also had a sample from the Men In Black movie at the beginning. I sent it over to Conor after he was like, ‘What is that sample? I need to have a play with it.’ He then made a faster version, beefed up with a 909, and we were left with 2 versions. We couldn’t decide on which version to stick on SoundCloud, so we ended up joining them both together, hence the slowdowns throughout the track.

What was your reaction when you found out "Afraid to Feel" hit number one on the UK charts?

It all happened quite fast, so it felt very surreal. It entered the chart at 69 then 13, 4, 3, 2, and then 1. We actually went to the pub and celebrated it entering at 69 and had no idea where it was going to end up. We were so buzzing it’s hard to describe.

How have your lives changed since gaining international recognition?

Our lives changed drastically; we went from working at a petrol station and as a roofer to traveling all over doing what we love. It's the best thing that's ever happened to us.

What are some challenges you've faced as you've transitioned from local gigs to international stages?

We used to get extremely nervous to the point of being unwell, haha. We weren’t used to it at all and had to learn how to be better DJs, deal with nerves, play festivals, and headline shows.

What's your approach to remixes, and how do you decide which songs to rework?

Choosing tracks we really like the original of is very important to us. We will only take it on if it’s something we feel we can do something with and that can fit into our sets.

Can you share insights into your creative process when starting a new track?

Often we start ideas individually as that’s how we worked previously being solo. Once we have ideas, we show each other them, decide if they are worth pursuing, and then sit together in the studio and finish them if they are. There’s a lot of digging for samples involved, then making drum grooves, etc.

What has been the most memorable venue or event you've played at to date?

Tomorrowland has probably got to be the one. We watched that as kids growing up and it just looked like the best time. We performed there in 2023 and it was everything we expected and more. We’ve been so lucky to perform in so many amazing places though.

Looking forward, what are some goals you hope to achieve with LF SYSTEM?

We just want to keep doing this thing we call a job for as long as possible. Maybe starting our own label at some point, releasing an album, releasing on some of our favorite labels, and playing in iconic venues.

How do you stay connected with your fans and the dance music community?

The broadcast channel on Instagram is a good way to keep in touch directly with the people who support us.

What advice would you give to aspiring DJs and producers who look up to you?

Get into it for the right reasons, have fun, and don’t take it too seriously but work hard at it.

Is there an artist or producer you dream of collaborating with?

There are loads of people we would love to work with. In fact, there might be one coming soon.

If you could only listen to one album for the rest of your lives, which would it be and why?

Conor: Paolo Nutini - Sunny Side Up. If I could only listen to one album it would be this; every tune is a banger and I reckon I wouldn’t be as quick to get sick of it.

Sean: Oasis - Definitely Maybe. What a band.

What's the most unexpected song or artist we might find in your personal music collection?

Conor: James Horner. Love a bit of James Horner, his soundtracks and scores are belters when you feel like you want to feel your feelings.

Sean: It feels normal to me but probably East Coast hip hop. Love that stuff.

If LF SYSTEM had a motto, what would it be?

Be sound.

What’s the funniest or most bizarre thing that has happened during one of your shows?

Conor: Having a very unfortunate dash back to our hotel in Arizona for a rather badly timed case of upset stomach. It was about a 5 min run away, with 5 mins before going on stage to start the show, and it was 50 degrees Celsius. All in all, great fun.

Favorite country or city to visit when you need downtime or a getaway?

Scotland.