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When I was just 10, I came across a story in my local paper about the Air Guitar World Championships, held annually every year in my hometown of Oulu, Finland. My family had volunteered at the very first contest back in 1996 – mom gave out flyers, my father sorted the music. From that point, country-level contests have been staged globally, with the champions gathering in Oulu annually.

Initially, I asked my parents if I could enter. Initially they had doubts; the show was in a bar, and there would be a lot of adults. They believed it might be an daunting atmosphere, but I was set on it.

During childhood, I was always “playing” air guitar, pretending to play to the biggest rock tunes with my imaginary instrument. My family were enthusiasts – my father loved The Boss and U2. the Australian rockers was the original act I stumbled upon myself. the guitarist, the guitar hero, was my idol.

When I stepped on stage, I played my set to AC/DC’s the song Whole Lotta Rosie. The spectators started yelling “Angus”, reminiscent of the concert version, and it hit me: this must be to be a music icon. I made it to the finals, playing to a large audience in Oulu’s market square, and I was captivated. I got the nickname “Little Angus” that day.

After that I stopped. I was a judge one year, and kicked off the show on another occasion, but I stayed out of the contest. I went back at 18, tested out several stage names, but people kept calling me “Little Angus” so I embraced it and choose “The Angus” as my performance alias. I’ve reached the finals annually from 2022 onward, and in 2023 I came second, so I was set to take the title this year.

The air guitar community is like a close-knit group. Our motto is ‘Make air, not war’. Though it appears humorous, but it’s a true ethos.

The contest is high-energy yet fun. Contestants have 60 seconds to put their all – dynamic presence, perfect mime, stage magnetism – on an imaginary instrument. Adjudicators evaluate you on a scale from a specific numeric range. If scores are equal, there’s an “air-off” between the final two contestants: a tune begins and you improvise.

Preparation is everything. I picked an Avenged Sevenfold song for my performance. I listened to it on a loop for a long time. I practiced flexibility, trying to get my lower body loose enough to jump, my fingers quick enough to imitate guitar parts and my spine set for those moves and leaps. Once competition day came, I could internalize the track in my soul.

After everyone had performed, the results were tallied, and I had tied with the Japanese champion, the Japanese titleholder – it was time for an air-off. We competed directly to the Guns N’ Roses hit by the rock group. When I heard the song, I felt comforted because it was a tune I recognized, and primarily I was so excited to have another go. Once the results were read I’d won, the venue exploded.

The moment is hazy. I think I zoned out from the excitement. Then everyone started singing the song the anthem Rockin' in the Free World and raised me up on to their shoulders. One of the greats – also known as Nordic Thunder – a past winner and one of my closest friends, was hugging me. I wept. I was the inaugural from Finland air guitar global winner in 25 years. The earlier winner from Finland, Markus “Black Raven” Vainionpää, was there, too. He gave me the most heartfelt squeeze and said it was “long overdue”.

Our global network is like a family. Our motto is “Focus on fun, not fighting”. It sounds silly, but it’s a genuine belief. Competitors come from globally, and everyone is supportive and encouraging. As you prepare to compete, every competitor offers an embrace. Then for 60 seconds you’re free to be free, playful, the biggest rock star in the world.

Additionally, I am a beat keeper and guitarist in a band with my family member called the band name, referencing the sports figure, as we’re influenced by UK rock and post-punk. I’ve been serving drinks for a couple of years, and I direct short films and music videos. The title hasn’t affected my daily activities drastically but I’ve been doing a extensive media, and I hope it leads to more innovative opportunities. The city will be a designated cultural center the coming year, so there are exciting things ahead.

At present, I’m just thankful: for the community, for the opportunity to play, and for that little kid who picked up a newspaper and thought, “That's for me.”