LF System are Conor Larkman and Sean Finnigan, two Scottish DJs who have emerged in the last couple of years with an energetic sound that is unapologetically targeted right at the heart of the dancefloor.
After writing 2022’s post-COVID dance stimulant “Afraid To Feel” (which topped the UK singles chart), the West Lothian duo hammered away at their follow-up, emerging in May with “Dancing Shoes (Take Me Higher)” on Ministry of Sound — a modern day roller disco anthem with a monster bassline.
“Dancing Shoes” builds on a sample from a dusty UK disco funk track from the ’70s. “(Got My) Dancing Shoes” was originally created by Plaza, a studio project created by keyboardists Mike Ratledge and Karl Jenkins of influential psychedelic prog rock band Soft Machine and producer Mike Thorne. (A few years later, Thorne would produce several albums for another pair of keyboardists, synth-pop duo Soft Cell, including their stomping cover of a ’60s soul record called “Tainted Love.”)
“We found the sample last year,” LF System told 5 Mag. “We were instantly drawn to the opening string section. Then the energetic change up to a disco banger — it really stood out to us, so we knew we had to sample it.”
The lads shopped around this “energetic but emotional summer banger” and found the legendary Ministry of Sound’s imprint eager to get their hands on it. LF System declare they are “absolutely buzzing to be working with such an iconic label for the dance music scene and it feels like the perfect home to be releasing our new music on.”
Following the release in May, Larkman and Finnigan (who first met as opponents playing football for rival teams as teenagers and bonded while meeting up later while clubbing in Scotland) will be taking their single on the road at festivals including Love Saves The Day (Bristol), Parklife (Manchester), Glastonbury and Exit Festival (Serbia).
“Hopefully, it puts people in the mood to party and dance,” LF System tells 5 Mag about “Dancing Shoes.” “But however people feel toward it, as long as it’s a good feeling it’s good enough for us.”
Photo: Studio AlexPlex
