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At the age of 10, I discovered a story in my community gazette about the Air Guitar World Championships, held annually every year in my hometown of Oulu, Finland. Mom and Dad had participated at the pioneering contest since 1996 – my mum distributed flyers, my dad managed the music. From that point, country-level contests have been held in many nations, with the winners converging in Oulu annually.

Back then, I inquired with my family if I could compete. Initially they had doubts; the event was in a bar, and there would be many grown-ups. They believed it might be an intimidating atmosphere, but I was resolved.

During childhood, I was always miming air guitar, pretending to play to the iconic rock tunes with my make-believe instrument. Mom and Dad were lovers of music – my father loved Springsteen and the Irish rock band. AC/DC was the first band I found independently. the lead guitarist, the lead guitarist, was my idol.

Upon entering the spotlight, I played my set to AC/DC’s the song Whole Lotta Rosie. The spectators started shouting “Angus”, similar to the album track, and it struck me: so this is to be a guitar hero. I reached the championship, competing to crowds in Oulu’s market square, and I was captivated. I earned the moniker “Little Angus” that day.

Later I paused. I was a referee one year, and started the show another time, but I stayed out of the contest. I went back at 18, tested out several stage names, but fans continued using “Little Angus” so I decided to own it and choose “The Angus” as my stage name. I’ve made it to the final each competition since then, and in 2023 I was the runner-up, so I was determined to win this year.

The worldwide group is like a support system. Our guiding principle is ‘Make air, not war’. It sounds silly, but it’s a genuine belief.

The contest is competitive but uplifting. Competitors have 60 seconds to give everything – dynamic presence, flawless imitation, rock star charisma – on an nonexistent axe. Adjudicators evaluate you on a grading system from a specific numeric range. In the case of a tie, there’s an “air-off” between the last two competitors: a song plays and you create on the spot.

Preparation is everything. I picked an Avenged Sevenfold song for my routine. I listened to it on a loop for weeks. I stretched constantly, trying to get my lower body flexible enough to bound, my digits quick enough to copy riffs and my upper body ready for those moves and leaps. Once the big day dawned, I could internalize the track in my bones.

When the show concluded, the results were tallied, and I had drawn with the winner from Japan, a competitor known as Sudo-chan – it was moment for an tiebreaker. We competed directly to that classic rock anthem by the rock group. When I heard the song, I felt comforted because it was familiar to me, and more than anything I was so eager to perform one more time. When they announced I’d triumphed, the venue exploded.

It's all a bit fuzzy. I think I blacked out from surprise. Then everyone started singing the classic tune that well-known track and raised me up on to their backs. A former champion – also known as his stage name – a past winner and one of my best pals, was embracing me. I shed tears. I was Finland’s first air guitar global winner in a quarter-century. The previous Finnish champion, Markus “Black Raven” Vainionpää, was in attendance as well. He offered me the warmest embrace and said it was “long overdue”.

The air guitar community is like a support system. Our guiding saying is “Create music, not conflict”. It may seem humorous, but it’s a true way of life. Participants come from many countries, and all involved is supportive and encouraging. Before you go on stage, all participants shows support. Then for one minute you’re free to be free, playful, the ultimate music icon in the world.

Additionally, I am a percussionist and string player in a band with my sibling called the Southgates, named after the football manager, as we’re inspired by Britpop and new wave. I’ve been working in bars for a couple of years, and I direct mini movies and song visuals. The victory hasn’t altered my routine too much but I’ve been doing a many interviews, and I hope it leads to more artistic projects. The city will be a cultural hub the coming year, so there are promising opportunities.

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