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At the age of 10, I read about a story in my local paper about the Air Guitar World Championships, that happens every year in my birthplace of Oulu, Finland. Mom and Dad had volunteered at the pioneering contest starting from 1996 – mom gave out flyers, my dad organized the music. From that point, country-level contests have been staged globally, with the champions converging in Oulu every summer.

Back then, I inquired with my family if I could enter. Initially they had doubts; the competition was in a bar, and there would be a lot of adults. They believed it might be an intimidating atmosphere, but I was determined.

In my youth, I was always “playing” air guitar, miming along to the biggest rock tunes with my invisible instrument. Mom and Dad were enthusiasts – my dad loved Springsteen and the Irish rock band. the Australian rockers was the original act I stumbled upon myself. Angus Young, the frontman guitarist, was my inspiration.

When I stepped on stage, I played my set to AC/DC’s Whole Lotta Rosie. The crowd started chanting “Angus”, reminiscent of the concert version, and it struck me: so this is to be a rock star. I reached the championship, competing to hundreds of people in Oulu’s market square, and I was hooked. I earned the moniker “Little Angus” that day.

After that I stopped. I was a adjudicator one year, and started the show another time, but I didn’t compete. I came back at 18, tried a few different stage names, but everyone still referred to me as “Little Angus” so I decided to own it and adopt “The Angus” as my artist name. I’ve reached the finals annually from 2022 onward, and in 2023 I came second, so I was determined to claim victory this year.

The worldwide group is like a family. The saying we live by is ‘Make air, not war’. It sounds silly, but it’s a genuine belief.

The competition itself is competitive but uplifting. Contestants have a short window to give everything – dynamic presence, precise mimicry, rock star charisma – on an imaginary instrument. The panel evaluate you on a grading system from four to six. In the case of a tie, there’s an “air-off” between the final two contestants: a track is selected and you create on the spot.

Training is crucial. I selected an the band Avenged Sevenfold song for my performance. I listened to it on a loop for weeks. I stretched constantly, trying to get my limbs loose enough to leap, my hands nimble enough to mimic solos and my spine ready for those moves and leaps. By the time competition day arrived, I could feel the song in my bones.

After everyone had performed, the scores came in, and I had matched with the titleholder from Japan, the Japanese titleholder – it was moment for an air-off. We competed directly to that classic rock anthem by the rock group. Once the track began, I felt comforted because it was one that I knew, and above all I was so eager to have another go. Once the results were read I’d won, the square erupted.

The moment is hazy. I think I blacked out from shock. Then the crowd started performing the classic tune Rockin’ in the Free World and raised me up on to their shoulders. One of the greats – alias his stage name – a past winner and one of my dear companions, was hugging me. I wept. I was the first Finnish air guitar world champion in two and a half decades. The previous Finnish champion, the earlier victor, was in attendance as well. He gave me the warmest embrace and said it was “long overdue”.

Our global network is like a close-knit group. The phrase we live by is “Create music, not conflict”. It may seem humorous, but it’s a genuine belief. Competitors come from all over the world, and each person is helpful and motivating. Before you go on stage, each contestant offers an embrace. Then for a brief period you’re allowed to be yourself, playful, the ultimate music icon in the world.

Besides that, I'm a percussionist and musician in a group with my brother called the band name, named after the football manager, as we’re fans of British music genres. I’ve been working in bars for a couple of years, and I direct independent videos and performance clips. The title hasn’t altered my routine too much but I’ve been doing a many interviews, and I hope it brings more artistic projects. Oulu will be a European capital of culture the coming year, so there are promising opportunities.

At present, I’m just thankful: for the group, for the chance to perform, and for that little kid who read an article and thought, “I want to do that.”