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Back when I was 10, I came across a article in my community gazette about the Global Air Guitar Contest, which take place every year in my birthplace of Oulu, Finland. My parents had helped out at the pioneering contest back in 1996 – mom distributed flyers, dad sorted the music. From that point, domestic competitions have been organized all across the world, with the champions gathering in Oulu annually.

Back then, I requested permission if I could participate. Initially they had doubts; the show was in a bar, and there would be a lot of adults. They thought it might be an intimidating atmosphere, but I was determined.

During childhood, I was always miming air guitar, acting out to the most popular rock tunes with my make-believe instrument. My parents were music fans – my father loved Bruce Springsteen and the Irish rock band. AC/DC was the first band I stumbled upon myself. the guitarist, the guitar hero, was my inspiration.

When I stepped on stage, I did my routine to the band's Whole Lotta Rosie. The spectators started shouting “Angus”, reminiscent of the album track, and it hit me: this must be to be a guitar hero. I reached the championship, playing to hundreds of people in the public plaza, and I was hooked. I was dubbed “Little Angus” that day.

After that I stopped. I was a referee one year, and opened for the show another time, but I didn’t compete. I returned at 18, tested out several stage names, but everyone still referred to me as “Little Angus” so I embraced it and adopt “The Angus” as my performance alias. I’ve qualified for the last round each competition since then, and in 2023 I placed second, so I was resolved to win this year.

Our global network is like a close-knit group. Our guiding principle is ‘Create music, not conflict’. Though it appears humorous, but it’s a real philosophy.

The competition itself is high-energy yet fun. Competitors have 60 seconds to give everything – dynamic presence, precise mimicry, stage magnetism – on an imaginary instrument. Judges score you on a grading system from a specific numeric range. If scores are equal, there’s an “showdown” between the final two contestants: a track is selected and you improvise.

Preparation is everything. I selected an Avenged Sevenfold song for my routine. I listened to it on a loop for a long time. I practiced flexibility, trying to get my legs loose enough to leap, my digits quick enough to copy riffs and my spine prepared for those moves and leaps. By the time the event dawned, I could feel the song in my being.

When the show concluded, the points were announced, and I had tied with the winner from Japan, Yuta “Sudo-chan” Sudo – it was moment for an air-off. We faced off to Sweet Child o’ Mine by the rock group. When I heard the song, I felt at ease because it was a tune I recognized, and more than anything I was so excited to perform one more time. Once the results were read I’d triumphed, the area erupted.

My memory is blurry. I think I blacked out from the excitement. Then all present started chanting Neil Young’s Rockin’ in the Free World and hoisted me on to their shoulders. A former champion – AKA Nordic Thunder – a past winner and one of my dear companions, was hugging me. I wept. I was the first Finnish air guitar world champion in a quarter-century. The previous Finnish champion, the earlier victor, was there, too. He gave me the most heartfelt squeeze and said it was “about damn time”.

The air guitar community is like a close-knit group. Our motto is “Focus on fun, not fighting”. It sounds silly, but it’s a real philosophy. Participants come from globally, and all involved is helpful and motivating. Before you go on stage, every competitor shows support. Then for one minute you’re allowed to be yourself, playful, the ultimate music icon in the world.

I’m also a percussionist and musician in a group with my family member called the group title, inspired by Gareth Southgate, as we’re fans of UK rock and post-punk. I’ve been working in bars for a few years now, and I direct independent videos and music videos. The title hasn’t affected my daily activities drastically but I’ve been doing a lot of press, and I wish it results in more creative work. The city will be a European capital of culture the coming year, so there are exciting things ahead.

Currently, I’m just appreciative: for the community, for the ability to compete, and for that young child who found a story and thought, “I'd love to try that.”