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Back when I was 10, I came across a story in my local paper about the Global Air Guitar Contest, that happens every year in my birthplace of Oulu, Finland. My parents had volunteered at the inaugural contest starting from 1996 – my mum distributed flyers, my father sorted the music. Since then, national championships have been staged in many nations, with the titleholders gathering in Oulu every summer.

At the time, I asked my parents if I could participate. At first they were hesitant; the show was in a bar, and there would be many grown-ups. They thought it might be an intimidating atmosphere, but I was resolved.

As a kid, I was always performing air guitar, pretending to play to the iconic rock tunes with my invisible instrument. Mom and Dad were music fans – dad loved Bruce Springsteen and U2. the band AC/DC was the initial group I found independently. the guitarist, the guitar hero, was my inspiration.

As I took the stage, I played my set to AC/DC’s the song Whole Lotta Rosie. The audience started shouting “Angus”, similar to the album track, and it hit me: so this is to be a music icon. I advanced to the last round, playing to hundreds of people 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 kicked off the show another time, but I stayed out of the contest. I went back at 18, experimented with various stage names, but everyone still referred to me as “Little Angus” so I embraced it and adopt “The Angus” as my artist name. I’ve made it to the final each competition since then, and in 2023 I was the runner-up, so I was resolved to claim victory this year.

The air guitar community is like a family. Our motto is ‘Play air guitar, avoid battles’. It sounds silly, but it’s a real philosophy.

The contest is high-energy yet fun. Competitors have 60 seconds to give everything – explosive energy, perfect mime, rock star charisma – on an imaginary instrument. Judges evaluate you on a scale from a specific numeric range. When it's a draw, there’s an “tiebreaker” between the remaining participants: a track is selected and you freestyle.

Getting ready is key. I picked an Avenged Sevenfold song for my performance. I had it on repeat for a long time. I did regular stretches, trying to get my limbs loose enough to jump, my hands quick enough to mimic solos and my upper body ready for those bends and jumps. When the big day arrived, I could sense the music in my soul.

When the show concluded, the scores came in, and I had drawn with the winner from Japan, a competitor known as Sudo-chan – it was moment for an air-off. We competed directly to that classic rock anthem by the rock group. As the music started, I felt at ease because it was one that I knew, and more than anything I was so thrilled to perform one more time. As they declared I’d won, the venue went wild.

The moment is hazy. I think I blacked out from the excitement. Then all present started performing the classic tune that well-known track and lifted me on to their shoulders. A former champion – alias his performer title – a previous titleholder and one of my dear companions, was embracing 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 there, too. He bestowed upon me the warmest embrace and said it was “long overdue”.

This worldwide group is like a family. The phrase we live by is “Create music, not conflict”. It may seem humorous, but it’s a real philosophy. Competitors come from many countries, and everyone is supportive and encouraging. As you prepare to compete, all participants offers an embrace. Then for a brief period you’re allowed to be free, playful, the biggest rock star in the world.

Besides that, I'm a drummer and musician in a group with my brother called the Southgates, named after Gareth Southgate, as we’re fans of UK rock and post-punk. I’ve been bartending for a couple of years, and I create independent videos and song visuals. Winning hasn’t changed my day-to-day life too much but I’ve been doing a many interviews, and I hope it results in more innovative opportunities. The city will be a European capital of culture next year, so there are exciting things ahead.

For now, I’m just grateful: for the network, for the ability to compete, and for that budding enthusiast who picked up a newspaper and thought, “I'd love to try that.”