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Back when I was 10, I discovered a feature in my hometown newspaper about the Global Air Guitar Contest, that happens every year in my hometown of Oulu, Finland. My parents had participated at the pioneering contest starting from 1996 – mom gave out flyers, my father sorted the music. Ever since, national championships have been staged in many nations, with the titleholders assembling in Oulu each August.

Initially, I requested permission if I could participate. At first they were hesitant; the event was in a bar, and there would be many grown-ups. They believed it might be an overwhelming atmosphere, but I was resolved.

As a kid, I was always “playing” air guitar, miming along to the biggest rock tunes with my invisible instrument. Mom and Dad were lovers of music – my dad loved Bruce Springsteen and the Irish rock band. the band AC/DC was the original act I discovered on my own. the lead guitarist, the lead guitarist, was my inspiration.

When I stepped on stage, I did my routine to the band's Whole Lotta Rosie. The spectators started chanting “Angus”, similar to the concert version, and it dawned on me: this must be to be a music icon. I advanced to the last round, competing to hundreds of people in the public plaza, and I was hooked. I got the nickname “Little Angus” that day.

Later I paused. I was a adjudicator 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 everyone still referred to me as “Little Angus” so I decided to own it and adopt “The Angus” as my stage name. I’ve qualified for the last round annually from 2022 onward, and in 2023 I came second, so I was resolved to take the title this year.

The worldwide group is like a close-knit group. Our guiding principle is ‘Create music, not conflict’. It sounds silly, but it’s a genuine belief.

The event is high-energy yet fun. Competitors have 60 seconds to put their all – high-powered performance, precise mimicry, 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 remaining participants: a track is selected and you improvise.

Training is crucial. I chose an Avenged Sevenfold song for my routine. I played it repeatedly for multiple weeks. I practiced flexibility, trying to get my lower body flexible enough to bound, my hands fast enough to imitate guitar parts and my spine prepared for those moves and leaps. Once the event arrived, I could sense the music in my bones.

When the show concluded, the results were tallied, and I had matched with the winner from Japan, a competitor known as Sudo-chan – it was occasion for an tiebreaker. We competed directly to Sweet Child o’ Mine by the iconic band. As the music started, I felt relieved because it was familiar to me, and primarily I was so excited to play again. As they declared I’d emerged victorious, the area exploded.

My memory is blurry. I think I blacked out from the excitement. Then the crowd started chanting the classic tune that well-known track and lifted me on to their arms. One of the greats – also known as his stage name – a past winner and one of my closest friends, was embracing me. I cried. I was Finland’s first air guitar world champion in two and a half decades. The earlier winner from Finland, Markus “Black Raven” Vainionpää, was there, too. He bestowed upon me the warmest embrace and said it was “finally happening”.

Our global network is like a close-knit group. The phrase we live by is “Make air, not war”. It sounds silly, but it’s a genuine belief. Competitors come from all over the world, and all involved is helpful and motivating. Before you go on stage, all participants offers an embrace. Then for 60 seconds you’re free to be uninhibited, silly, the biggest rock star in the world.

I’m also a percussionist and guitarist in a band with my sibling called the Southgates, inspired by Gareth Southgate, as we’re fans of British music genres. I’ve been bartending for a few years now, and I direct independent videos and song visuals. Winning hasn’t altered my routine drastically but I’ve been doing a lot of press, and I aspire it leads to more artistic projects. The city will be a designated cultural center next year, so there are exciting things ahead.

At present, I’m just appreciative: for the group, for the opportunity to play, and for that budding enthusiast who found a story and thought, “That's for me.”