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At the age of 10, I came across a feature in my local paper about the Air Guitar World Championships, which take place every year in my birthplace of Oulu, Finland. My parents had participated at the inaugural contest starting from 1996 – my mother gave out flyers, my dad organized the music. Since then, country-level contests have been held globally, with the champions gathering in Oulu each August.

Back then, I asked my parents if I could enter. Initially they had doubts; the competition was in a bar, and there would be an older crowd. They thought it might be an overwhelming atmosphere, but I was determined.

In my youth, I was always miming air guitar, miming along to the biggest rock tunes with my invisible instrument. Mom and Dad were music fans – my dad loved Springsteen and U2. AC/DC was the first band I stumbled upon myself. Angus Young, the frontman guitarist, was my inspiration.

When I stepped on stage, I played my set to the band's the song Whole Lotta Rosie. The crowd started yelling “Angus”, just like the album track, and it struck me: so this is to be a music icon. I reached the championship, performing to a large audience in the town square, and I was hooked. I earned the moniker “Little Angus” that day.

Then I took a break. I was a referee one year, and started the show on another occasion, but I didn’t compete. I returned at 18, tested out several stage names, but fans continued using “Little Angus” so I embraced it and make “The Angus” as my artist name. I’ve reached the finals each competition since then, and in 2023 I placed second, so I was determined to claim victory this year.

The air guitar community is like a close-knit group. Our motto is ‘Create music, not conflict’. It may seem funny, but it’s a true ethos.

The event is intense but joyful. Competitors have one minute to deliver maximum effort – dynamic presence, flawless imitation, stage magnetism – on an nonexistent axe. Judges score you on a grading system from four to six. If scores are equal, there’s an “showdown” between the last two competitors: a song plays and you create on the spot.

Preparation is everything. I picked an a metal group song for my performance. I played it repeatedly for weeks. I did regular stretches, trying to get my legs loose enough to leap, my fingers nimble enough to mimic solos and my back prepared for those bends and jumps. When the big day dawned, I could internalize the track in my being.

When the show concluded, the scores came in, and I had matched with the titleholder from Japan, the Japanese titleholder – it was time for an air-off. We faced off to that classic rock anthem by Guns N’ Roses. Once the track began, I felt comforted because it was one that I knew, and more than anything I was so eager to have another go. Once the results were read I’d triumphed, the area went wild.

It's all a bit fuzzy. I think I zoned out from the excitement. Then the crowd started singing Neil Young’s the anthem Rockin' in the Free World and hoisted me on to their shoulders. A former champion – AKA Nordic Thunder – a previous titleholder and one of my closest friends, was hugging me. I shed tears. I was the inaugural from Finland air guitar international titleholder in two and a half decades. The prior titleholder, the earlier victor, was also present. He bestowed upon me the most heartfelt squeeze and said it was “long overdue”.

Our global network is like a support system. The phrase we live by is “Focus on fun, not fighting”. Though it appears comical, but it’s a real philosophy. Competitors come from globally, and all involved is positive and uplifting. As you prepare to compete, all participants shows support. Then for one minute you’re free to be free, silly, the top performer in the world.

Additionally, I am a percussionist and musician in a group with my family member called the band name, referencing the football manager, as we’re fans of Britpop and new wave. I’ve been serving drinks for a few years now, and I produce short films and music videos. The title hasn’t altered my routine too much but I’ve been doing a many interviews, and I aspire it results in more artistic projects. The city will be a cultural hub soon, so there are promising opportunities.

For now, I’m just thankful: for the network, for the opportunity to play, and for that budding enthusiast who found a story and thought, “I'd love to try that.”