"Afraid to Feel" is a song by British duo

LF System LF System are a Scottish production duo consisting of Conor Larkman and Sean Finnigan. They are from West Lothian and previously worked as a roofer and petrol station worker. They topped the UK Singles Chart in July 2022 with "Afraid to Feel", ...

. The mix was created in 2019 and picked up for full release on 2 May 2022, by

Warner Music UK Warner Music Group's labels include the following. Flagship labels *Atlantic Records *Elektra Records *Parlophone Records *Warner Records Atlantic Records Group * 1st & 15th Entertainment * All Money In * Artist Partners Group * Asylum Reco ...

. The single rose to popularity in June 2022 and spent eight consecutive weeks at number one in the

UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...

and six non-consecutive weeks at number two in Ireland. The song prominently samples the Philadelphia International Records act Silk's 1979 song "I Can't Stop (Turning You On)", with Louise Clare Marshall's vocals slowed down and sped up throughout the single.

Writing and composition

The duo found the original track in 2019 while looking for samples to use for loops and vocals. The duo interpolated and re-recorded the original vocal sample from Silk as a replayed use to avoid sample clearance issues. "I Can't Stop (Turning You On)" was a slower 85bpm with "Afraid to Feel" at an uptempo 130bpm, the tempo was altered after playing around with the sample in Ableton Live. The style of production is both similar and pays homage to a ''disco edit'', which started in the 70s to upstart a dance floor, involving cutting one part of a song and chopping it into a different part of the song structure.

Critical reception

Griff of ''Knights of the Turntable'' opined that the song was an "irresistible soul-soaked cut" with "heartfelt, slow moments to pumping" next to "pumping, euphoric house grooves". The duo brings a "pure sense of joy throughout" the song. In May 2022, the song was chosen "Hottest Record" by Clara Amfo on

BBC Radio 1 BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC. It specialises in modern popular music and current chart hits throughout the day. The station provides alternative genres at night, including electronica, dance, ...

Chart performance

On the

, the song reached number 13 when it moved up 56 places from number 69 in its second week on the chart, for the issue dated 10 June 2022. "Afraid to Feel" rose to number one on 8 July.

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

References

{{reflist 2019 songs 2022 singles UK Singles Chart number-one singles Warner Music Group singles