By Andreas Elbke Mortensen, volunteer journalist in Roskilde Festival’s Media House.
"It's a really steep curve to go from being a band that was still figuring out who we were to suddenly playing a full set at a huge festival."
Speaking over the phone from Iceland, Herdís Stefánsdóttir and Salka Valsdóttir laugh at the thought. They know just how unusual the story behind SCAM really is.
The duo had played just one concert. They hadn't released any music yet. But Roskilde Festival's booker happened to be in the audience that night – and had no doubts about what they were seeing.
"The very next day, Roskilde called," Herdís and Salka laugh.
Although SCAM is a new project, both musicians have worked professionally with music for more than 15 years. They see the duo as the culmination of a long musical journey, one that now leads them to the Lagune stage on Sunday at 21:15.
And that performance means a great deal to them.
"We always took the project seriously, but after Roskilde booked us, we finally allowed ourselves to think, 'Okay, let's go all in.' It gave us an incredible boost of confidence. It almost feels like destiny, especially because we hadn't even released our first single yet. That just doesn't happen."
The sound of something made by hand
Since that booking for First Days, SCAM have released two singles, giving listeners their first taste of the duo's distinctive sound.
"It's EDM that feels cinematic, expansive and incredibly detailed all at once."
They describe their music as a journey built on striking contrasts, where every sound is crafted by hand.
"Every sound we make is handcrafted, like a delicate mosaic."
That craftsmanship extends to their visual identity. They almost always perform wearing washing-up gloves – a symbol of putting on your tools and creating something with your own hands.
In fact, they're encouraging the audience to wear washing-up gloves to the show as well.
Expectations are high, but above all they're looking forward to meeting the Roskilde Festival audience.
"We hope people leave feeling ecstatic, like they've been part of something truly special."
Want to discover the next wave?
SCAM are far from the only emerging act on this year's First Days programme worth keeping an eye on. Roskilde Festival's First Days booker, Anniq Søborg, has picked six more artists she believes you should catch before the rest of the world catches on:
Ana Juél: Soulful R&B with artistic depth and a strong social conscience.
Pistol Pistol Pistol: Rebellious, gritty and melodic Danish hardcore punk.
Ponny: An uncompromising trio delivering infectious punk gems and raw riot grrrl energy.
Smøgmænd: An original hip-hop universe of masks, mystery and occult Nordic noir.
Portal Pets: Gothic moods, off-kilter folk and grunge aesthetics from an exciting new Copenhagen trio.
Pumpegris: Groovy, innovative Nordic folk from one of Norway's most exciting live acts.