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Back when I was 10, I discovered a story in my local paper about the Global Air Guitar Contest, held annually every year in my native city of Oulu, Finland. My family had volunteered at the pioneering contest starting from 1996 – my mother distributed flyers, my dad managed the music. Ever since, national championships have been staged globally, with the titleholders converging in Oulu annually.

Back then, 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 miming air guitar, pretending to play to the iconic rock tunes with my imaginary instrument. My family were music fans – my dad loved The Boss and the Irish rock band. AC/DC was the initial group I discovered on my own. the guitarist, the frontman guitarist, was my idol.

Upon entering the spotlight, I performed my act to AC/DC’s that classic track. The spectators started yelling “Angus”, reminiscent of the album track, and it struck me: so this is to be a guitar hero. I reached the championship, performing to crowds in Oulu’s market square, and I was captivated. I earned the moniker “Little Angus” that day.

Later I paused. I was a adjudicator one year, and opened for the show another time, but I didn’t compete. I went back at 18, tried a few different stage names, but everyone still referred to me as “Little Angus” so I embraced it and choose “The Angus” as my stage name. I’ve qualified for the last round every year since 2022, and in 2023 I was the runner-up, so I was set to take the title this year.

The worldwide group is like a close-knit group. Our motto is ‘Play air guitar, avoid battles’. It sounds silly, but it’s a true ethos.

The contest is intense but joyful. Participants have a short window to give everything – explosive energy, flawless imitation, performance charm – on an invisible guitar. Adjudicators rate you on a grading system from four to six. If scores are equal, there’s an “air-off” between the last two competitors: a song plays and you improvise.

Preparation is everything. I selected an a metal group song for my performance. I listened to it on a loop for a long time. I stretched constantly, trying to get my lower body loose enough to bound, my hands fast enough to copy riffs and my upper body ready for those moves and leaps. Once the big day came, I could internalize the track in my soul.

Once all acts were done, the scores came in, and I had drawn with the titleholder from Japan, Yuta “Sudo-chan” Sudo – it was occasion for an tiebreaker. We went head-to-head to that classic rock anthem by the rock group. Once the track began, I felt at ease because it was one that I knew, and more than anything I was so excited to perform one more time. As they declared I’d won, the area exploded.

The moment is hazy. I think I blacked out from shock. Then everyone started performing Neil Young’s that well-known track and raised me up on to their shoulders. Justin Howard – also known as his stage name – a past winner and one of my dear companions, was embracing me. I cried. I was Finland’s first air guitar world champion in a quarter-century. The prior titleholder, the former champion, was there, too. He bestowed upon me the warmest embrace and said it was “finally happening”.

Our global network is like a family. Our motto is “Create music, not conflict”. Though it appears comical, but it’s a real philosophy. Competitors come from all over the world, and everyone is positive and uplifting. Before you go on stage, every competitor shows support. Then for 60 seconds you’re allowed to be uninhibited, playful, the biggest rock star in the world.

Besides that, I'm a beat keeper and musician in a band with my family member called the band name, named after Gareth Southgate, as we’re influenced by British music genres. I’ve been bartending for a short time, and I create mini movies and performance clips. The victory hasn’t changed my day-to-day life drastically but I’ve been doing a many interviews, and I wish it brings more innovative opportunities. My hometown will be a designated cultural center the coming year, so there are great prospects.

For now, I’m just grateful: for the group, for the chance to perform, and for that little kid who picked up a newspaper and thought, “I want to do that.”