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Back when I was 10, I read about a article in my local paper about the Global Air Guitar Contest, which take place every year in my hometown of Oulu, Finland. My family had volunteered at the inaugural contest starting from 1996 – mom gave out flyers, dad sorted the music. From that point, country-level contests have been staged all across the world, with the champions converging in Oulu every summer.

Initially, I asked my parents if I could enter. Initially they had doubts; the show was in a bar, and there would be many grown-ups. They felt it might be an overwhelming atmosphere, but I was determined.

In my youth, I was always miming air guitar, pretending to play to the most popular rock tunes with my imaginary instrument. My parents were music fans – my dad loved The Boss and U2. AC/DC was the first band I found independently. the guitarist, the frontman guitarist, was my idol.

When I stepped on stage, I did my routine to the band's Whole Lotta Rosie. The crowd started shouting “Angus”, just like the album track, and it dawned on me: this is what it feels like to be a rock star. I advanced to the last round, playing to crowds in Oulu’s market square, and I was addicted. I got the nickname “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 came back at 18, experimented with various stage names, but everyone still referred to me as “Little Angus” so I decided to own it and choose “The Angus” as my performance alias. I’ve reached the finals annually from 2022 onward, and in 2023 I placed second, so I was set to take the title this year.

Our global network is like a close-knit group. Our guiding principle is ‘Make air, not war’. It sounds silly, but it’s a genuine belief.

The event is high-energy yet fun. Competitors have 60 seconds to deliver maximum effort – explosive energy, precise mimicry, performance charm – on an invisible guitar. Judges score you on a scale from 4.0 to 6.0. If scores are equal, there’s an “tiebreaker” between the last two competitors: a tune begins and you improvise.

Preparation is everything. I selected an the band Avenged Sevenfold song for my routine. I listened to it on a loop for multiple weeks. I practiced flexibility, trying to get my legs flexible enough to bound, my fingers quick enough to mimic solos and my upper body ready for those gestures and hops. When the event came, I could feel the song in my being.

After everyone had performed, the points were announced, and I had drawn with the titleholder from Japan, Yuta “Sudo-chan” Sudo – it was occasion for an air-off. We faced off to Sweet Child o’ Mine by the rock group. Once the track began, I felt relieved because it was familiar to me, and more than anything I was so thrilled to play again. Once the results were read I’d emerged victorious, the square exploded.

It's all a bit fuzzy. I think I zoned out from surprise. Then the crowd started chanting Neil Young’s that well-known track and raised me up on to their arms. One of the greats – AKA his performer title – a previous titleholder and one of my best pals, was embracing me. I wept. I was Finland’s first air guitar world champion in two and a half decades. The previous Finnish champion, the former champion, was also present. He offered me the warmest embrace and said it was “about damn time”.

The air guitar community is like a family. The phrase we live by is “Make air, not war”. It sounds silly, but it’s a genuine belief. Competitors come from globally, and everyone is supportive and encouraging. Prior to performing, each contestant shows support. Then for a brief period you’re free to be free, humorous, the biggest rock star in the world.

Besides that, I'm a beat keeper and guitarist in a musical act with my sibling called the band name, inspired by Gareth Southgate, as we’re fans of British music genres. I’ve been working in bars for a couple of years, and I create independent videos and performance clips. Winning hasn’t affected my daily activities too much but I’ve been doing a extensive media, and I aspire it brings more artistic projects. My hometown will be a cultural hub next year, so there are exciting things ahead.

Currently, I’m just appreciative: for the network, for the opportunity to play, and for that little kid who found a story and thought, “I'd love to try that.”