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Back when I was 10, I came across a article in my community gazette about the World Air Guitar Competition, that happens every year in my native city of Oulu, Finland. My parents had participated at the very first contest back in 1996 – my mother distributed flyers, my father organized the music. Ever since, national championships have been held all across the world, with the titleholders gathering in Oulu every summer.

At the time, I requested permission if I could enter. Initially they had doubts; the competition was in a bar, and there would be many grown-ups. They felt it might be an daunting atmosphere, but I was resolved.

As a kid, I was always performing air guitar, miming along to the most popular rock tunes with my invisible instrument. My parents were music fans – dad loved Bruce Springsteen and the Irish rock band. AC/DC was the initial group I discovered on my own. Angus Young, the guitar hero, was my idol.

As I took the stage, I performed my act to the band's Whole Lotta Rosie. The crowd started chanting “Angus”, similar to the concert version, and it hit me: so this is to be a music icon. I made it to the finals, playing to hundreds of people in the public plaza, and I was hooked. I got the nickname “Little Angus” that day.

Then I took a break. I was a adjudicator one year, and kicked off the show once more, but I didn’t compete. I returned at 18, tried a few different stage names, but everyone still referred to me as “Little Angus” so I decided to own it and adopt “The Angus” as my artist name. I’ve reached the finals every year since 2022, and in 2023 I came second, so I was resolved to win this year.

The air guitar community is like a family. The saying we live by is ‘Play air guitar, avoid battles’. Though it appears humorous, but it’s a true ethos.

The contest is high-energy yet fun. Contestants have one minute to put their all – dynamic presence, precise mimicry, stage magnetism – on an invisible guitar. The panel score you on a point range from 4.0 to 6.0. If scores are equal, there’s an “tiebreaker” between the remaining participants: a track is selected and you freestyle.

Preparation is everything. I chose an a metal group song for my routine. I listened to it on a loop for weeks. I did regular stretches, trying to get my limbs prepared enough to leap, my hands quick enough to copy riffs and my upper body set for those moves and leaps. Once competition day arrived, I could internalize the track in my being.

Once all acts were done, the points were announced, and I had matched with the winner from Japan, Yuta “Sudo-chan” Sudo – it was time for an final showdown. We competed directly to that classic rock anthem by Guns N’ Roses. When I heard the song, I felt relieved because it was a tune I recognized, and above all I was so excited to play again. As they declared I’d won, the venue erupted.

The moment is hazy. I think I lost consciousness from the excitement. Then everyone started performing Neil Young’s Rockin’ in the Free World and raised me up on to their shoulders. One of the greats – alias his stage name – a former champion and one of my closest friends, was embracing me. I wept. I was the first Finnish air guitar world champion in two and a half decades. The previous Finnish champion, the earlier victor, was in attendance as well. He bestowed upon me the most heartfelt squeeze and said it was “finally happening”.

Our global network is like a close-knit group. Our motto is “Focus on fun, not fighting”. It sounds silly, but it’s a true way of life. People come from globally, and each person is supportive and encouraging. Prior to performing, every competitor shows support. Then for a brief period you’re able to be yourself, humorous, the top performer in the world.

Besides that, I'm a drummer and guitarist in a band with my family member called the group title, named after Gareth Southgate, as we’re fans of British music genres. I’ve been bartending for a couple of years, and I direct independent videos and performance clips. Winning hasn’t changed my day-to-day life drastically but I’ve been doing a lot of press, and I hope it leads to more innovative opportunities. My hometown will be a European capital of culture next year, so there are great prospects.

Currently, I’m just thankful: for the group, for the chance to perform, and for that little kid who read an article and thought, “I want to do that.”