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At the age of 10, I came across a article in my local paper about the Air Guitar World Championships, which take place every year in my hometown of Oulu, Finland. Mom and Dad had volunteered at the inaugural contest starting from 1996 – my mum handed out flyers, my father managed the music. Ever since, domestic competitions have been staged all across the world, with the champions converging in Oulu each August.

At the time, I asked my parents if I could participate. They weren't sure at first; the competition was in a bar, and there would be a lot of adults. They felt it might be an intimidating atmosphere, but I was set on it.

As a kid, I was always performing air guitar, miming along to the iconic rock tunes with my invisible instrument. My family were lovers of music – my dad loved The Boss and the Irish rock band. the Australian rockers was the original act I found independently. the guitarist, the frontman guitarist, was my inspiration.

As I took the stage, I performed my act to AC/DC’s Whole Lotta Rosie. The audience started shouting “Angus”, similar to the live recording, and it struck me: so this is to be a music icon. I advanced to the last round, playing to a large audience in Oulu’s market square, and I was hooked. I was dubbed “Little Angus” that day.

Later I paused. I was a judge one year, and opened for the show once more, but I stayed out of the contest. I went back at 18, tried a few different stage names, but people kept calling me “Little Angus” so I accepted it fully and adopt “The Angus” as my performance alias. I’ve reached the finals every year since 2022, and in 2023 I was the runner-up, so I was resolved to win this year.

Our global network is like a family. Our guiding principle is ‘Play air guitar, avoid battles’. It sounds silly, but it’s a real philosophy.

The event is intense but joyful. Competitors have a short window to put their all – dynamic presence, flawless imitation, rock star charisma – on an invisible guitar. Adjudicators rate you on a scale from four to six. If scores are equal, there’s an “tiebreaker” between the last two competitors: a track is selected and you create on the spot.

Training is crucial. I selected an a metal group song for my act. I played it repeatedly for multiple weeks. I did regular stretches, trying to get my lower body loose enough to bound, my digits quick enough to mimic solos and my back ready for those bends and jumps. By the time competition day arrived, I could sense the music in my bones.

When the show concluded, the scores came in, and I had matched with the winner from Japan, a competitor known as Sudo-chan – it was moment for an tiebreaker. We competed directly to the Guns N’ Roses hit by the rock group. Once the track began, I felt at ease because it was familiar to me, and above all I was so thrilled to have another go. Once the results were read I’d triumphed, the venue exploded.

It's all a bit fuzzy. I think I blacked out from surprise. Then all present started singing the classic tune Rockin’ in the Free World and lifted me on to their shoulders. One of the greats – also known as his performer title – a former champion and one of my closest friends, was hugging me. I wept. I was the first Finnish air guitar international titleholder in two and a half decades. The previous Finnish champion, the earlier victor, was there, too. He bestowed upon me the most heartfelt squeeze and said it was “about damn time”.

The air guitar community is like a family. The phrase we live by is “Create music, not conflict”. It may seem humorous, but it’s a genuine belief. People come from all over the world, and each person is helpful and motivating. Before you go on stage, each contestant shows support. Then for 60 seconds you’re able to be free, humorous, the ultimate music icon in the world.

Additionally, I am a beat keeper and guitarist in a band with my sibling called the group title, inspired by the sports figure, as we’re fans of British music genres. I’ve been working in bars for a couple of years, and I create mini movies and performance clips. The title hasn’t affected my daily activities drastically but I’ve been doing a many interviews, and I aspire it leads to more creative work. The city will be a European capital of culture the coming year, so there are exciting things ahead.

For now, I’m just appreciative: for the network, for the ability to compete, and for that budding enthusiast who read an article and thought, “That's for me.”