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Back when I was 10, I read about a story in my community gazette about the World Air Guitar Competition, that happens every year in my native city of Oulu, Finland. My parents had volunteered at the very first contest back in 1996 – my mother distributed flyers, my dad organized the music. Ever since, domestic competitions have been organized globally, with the winners gathering in Oulu annually.

Back then, I inquired with my family if I could enter. They weren't sure at first; the event was in a bar, and there would be a lot of adults. They believed it might be an overwhelming atmosphere, but I was set on it.

As a kid, I was always “playing” air guitar, pretending to play to the iconic rock tunes with my make-believe instrument. Mom and Dad were music fans – my dad loved Bruce Springsteen and the Irish rock band. the band AC/DC was the first band I discovered on my own. the lead guitarist, the frontman guitarist, was my idol.

As I took the stage, I played my set to AC/DC’s that classic track. The audience started yelling “Angus”, just like the live recording, and it struck me: this is what it feels like to be a music icon. I reached the championship, performing to crowds in the town square, and I was captivated. I was dubbed “Little Angus” that day.

Then I took a break. I was a judge one year, and started the show once more, but I didn’t compete. I went back at 18, tested out several stage names, but people kept calling me “Little Angus” so I accepted it fully and adopt “The Angus” as my stage name. I’ve made it to the final each competition since then, and in 2023 I came second, so I was resolved to take the title this year.

The air guitar community is like a close-knit group. Our guiding principle is ‘Make air, not war’. It may seem funny, but it’s a genuine belief.

The competition itself is intense but joyful. Competitors have 60 seconds to give everything – dynamic presence, flawless imitation, stage magnetism – on an invisible guitar. The panel evaluate you on a grading system from four to six. If scores are equal, there’s an “air-off” between the last two competitors: a song plays and you improvise.

Preparation is everything. I picked an Avenged Sevenfold song for my act. I listened to it on a loop for multiple weeks. I did regular stretches, trying to get my lower body prepared enough to jump, my digits fast enough to mimic solos and my upper body ready for those gestures and hops. Once the big day came, I could internalize the track in my being.

After everyone had performed, the points were announced, and I had tied with the Japanese champion, the Japanese titleholder – it was moment for an tiebreaker. We went head-to-head to the Guns N’ Roses hit by the iconic band. When I heard the song, I felt at ease because it was familiar to me, and more than anything I was so excited to play again. As they declared I’d emerged victorious, the area went wild.

My memory is blurry. I think I zoned out from the excitement. Then the crowd started singing the song the anthem Rockin' in the Free World and lifted me on to their backs. A former champion – alias his stage name – a previous titleholder and one of my dear companions, was hugging me. I shed tears. I was Finland’s first air guitar international titleholder in a quarter-century. The prior titleholder, Markus “Black Raven” Vainionpää, was there, too. He offered me the warmest embrace and said it was “long overdue”.

The air guitar community is like a support system. The phrase we live by is “Focus on fun, not fighting”. It may seem humorous, but it’s a real philosophy. Participants come from globally, and all involved is positive and uplifting. Before you go on stage, all participants offers an embrace. Then for one minute you’re free to be uninhibited, silly, the biggest rock star in the world.

Additionally, I am a percussionist and guitarist in a band with my family member called the Southgates, named after the football manager, as we’re influenced by British music genres. I’ve been serving drinks for a few years now, and I direct independent videos and performance clips. Winning hasn’t affected my daily activities drastically but I’ve been doing a many interviews, and I hope it leads to more innovative opportunities. The city will be a cultural hub the coming year, so there are great prospects.

For now, I’m just thankful: for the network, for the chance to perform, and for that budding enthusiast who picked up a newspaper and thought, “I'd love to try that.”