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At the age of 10, I discovered a article in my community gazette about the Air Guitar World Championships, that happens every year in my birthplace of Oulu, Finland. Mom and Dad had volunteered at the very first contest back in 1996 – my mother distributed flyers, my dad sorted the music. Ever since, country-level contests have been organized in many nations, with the winners gathering in Oulu every summer.

At the time, 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 many grown-ups. They thought it might be an daunting atmosphere, but I was resolved.

During childhood, I was always miming air guitar, pretending to play to the biggest rock tunes with my invisible instrument. My parents were music fans – my father loved Springsteen and U2. the Australian rockers was the first band I discovered on my own. the lead guitarist, the frontman guitarist, was my inspiration.

As I took the stage, I played my set to AC/DC’s that classic track. The audience started chanting “Angus”, just like the live recording, and it hit me: this must be to be a music icon. I advanced to the last round, competing to a large audience in the public plaza, and I was hooked. I got the nickname “Little Angus” that day.

After that I stopped. I was a referee one year, and kicked off the show another time, but I didn't participate. I came back at 18, tested out several stage names, but everyone still referred to me as “Little Angus” so I decided to own it and make “The Angus” as my stage name. I’ve qualified for the last round every year since 2022, and in 2023 I placed second, so I was set to take the title this year.

Our global network is like a family. Our motto is ‘Create music, not conflict’. It may seem funny, but it’s a true ethos.

The event is competitive but uplifting. Competitors have 60 seconds to deliver maximum effort – dynamic presence, perfect mime, rock star charisma – on an invisible guitar. Adjudicators rate you on a scale from four to six. If scores are equal, there’s an “showdown” between the last two competitors: a tune begins and you create on the spot.

Training is crucial. I selected an Avenged Sevenfold song for my performance. I listened to it on a loop for multiple weeks. I did regular stretches, trying to get my lower body flexible enough to bound, my digits quick enough to copy riffs and my spine ready for those moves and leaps. Once the big day came, I could feel the song in my bones.

After everyone had performed, the results were tallied, and I had drawn with the winner from Japan, the Japanese titleholder – it was moment for an tiebreaker. We went head-to-head to the Guns N’ Roses hit by the iconic band. As the music started, I felt at ease because it was a tune I recognized, and more than anything I was so excited to play again. Once the results were read I’d won, the area erupted.

It's all a bit fuzzy. I think I blacked out from the excitement. Then the crowd started performing the song that well-known track and raised me up on to their arms. Justin Howard – alias Nordic Thunder – a previous titleholder and one of my closest friends, was hugging me. I wept. I was Finland’s first air guitar international titleholder in 25 years. The previous Finnish champion, Markus “Black Raven” Vainionpää, was there, too. He offered me the warmest embrace and said it was “finally happening”.

The air guitar community is like a close-knit group. Our motto is “Create music, not conflict”. Though it appears comical, but it’s a true way of life. Participants come from many countries, and everyone is helpful and motivating. Before you go on stage, every competitor comes and hugs you. Then for 60 seconds you’re allowed to be uninhibited, silly, the top performer in the world.

Besides that, I'm a percussionist and guitarist in a band with my sibling called the group title, named after the football manager, as we’re influenced by Britpop and new wave. I’ve been working in bars for a short time, and I produce mini movies and performance clips. Winning hasn’t changed my day-to-day life significantly but I’ve been doing a extensive media, and I wish it results in more creative work. My hometown will be a cultural hub soon, so there are great prospects.

Currently, I’m just appreciative: for the group, for the opportunity to play, and for that budding enthusiast who found a story and thought, “I want to do that.”