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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 native city of Oulu, Finland. My family had participated at the pioneering contest since 1996 – my mum distributed flyers, my father organized the music. Ever since, country-level contests have been held all across the world, with the titleholders converging in Oulu every summer.

Back then, I asked my parents if I could enter. At first they were hesitant; the show was in a bar, and there would be a lot of adults. They felt it might be an daunting atmosphere, but I was set on it.

As a kid, I was always performing air guitar, acting out to the biggest rock tunes with my invisible instrument. My family were music fans – my father loved Springsteen and U2. AC/DC was the original act I stumbled upon myself. the lead guitarist, the frontman guitarist, was my idol.

Upon entering the spotlight, I played my set to AC/DC’s Whole Lotta Rosie. The crowd started chanting “Angus”, just like the live recording, and it hit me: this is what it feels like to be a guitar hero. I reached the championship, competing to a large audience in the public plaza, and I was addicted. I got the nickname “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 participate. I returned at 18, experimented with various stage names, but fans continued using “Little Angus” so I embraced it and choose “The Angus” as my performance alias. I’ve qualified for the last round every year since 2022, and in 2023 I was the runner-up, so I was determined to claim victory this year.

The air guitar community is like a support system. The saying we live by is ‘Make air, not war’. It sounds silly, but it’s a real philosophy.

The competition itself is high-energy yet fun. Competitors have 60 seconds to deliver maximum effort – dynamic presence, perfect mime, stage magnetism – on an invisible guitar. The panel evaluate you on a grading system from a specific numeric range. In the case of a tie, there’s an “showdown” between the final two contestants: a song plays and you create on the spot.

Training is crucial. I chose an a metal group song for my act. I had it on repeat for multiple weeks. I did regular stretches, trying to get my legs loose enough to bound, my fingers quick enough to mimic solos and my back prepared for those bends and jumps. By the time the event arrived, I could sense the music in my soul.

After everyone had performed, the scores came in, and I had drawn with the titleholder from Japan, Yuta “Sudo-chan” Sudo – it was time for an tiebreaker. We faced off to that classic rock anthem by the rock group. As the music started, I felt relieved because it was one that I knew, and primarily I was so thrilled to play again. When they announced I’d won, the square went wild.

It's all a bit fuzzy. I think I lost consciousness from the excitement. Then all present started singing the classic tune that well-known track and raised me up on to their arms. Justin Howard – AKA his performer title – a past winner and one of my best pals, was holding me. I cried. I was Finland’s first air guitar world champion in two and a half decades. The prior titleholder, the earlier victor, was there, too. He offered me the warmest embrace and said it was “long overdue”.

Our global network is like a close-knit group. Our motto is “Focus on fun, not fighting”. Though it appears comical, but it’s a genuine belief. Participants come from many countries, and each person is positive and uplifting. Prior to performing, each contestant offers an embrace. Then for one minute you’re free to be free, humorous, the top performer in the world.

Besides that, I'm a drummer and string player in a group with my brother called the group title, named after the sports figure, as we’re fans of UK rock and post-punk. I’ve been working in bars for a couple of years, and I direct short films and music videos. The title hasn’t changed my day-to-day life significantly but I’ve been doing a many interviews, and I aspire it brings more artistic projects. My hometown will be a designated cultural center soon, so there are great prospects.

At present, I’m just appreciative: for the network, for the ability to compete, and for that young child who picked up a newspaper and thought, “That's for me.”