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Back when I was 10, I came across a article in my local paper about the Air Guitar World Championships, held annually every year in my hometown of Oulu, Finland. My family had helped out at the inaugural contest since 1996 – my mother handed out flyers, my dad organized the music. Ever since, domestic competitions have been staged globally, with the titleholders gathering in Oulu annually.

Initially, I asked my parents if I could participate. Initially they had doubts; 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 determined.

In my youth, I was always performing air guitar, pretending to play to the biggest rock tunes with my invisible instrument. My family were lovers of music – my dad loved Springsteen and U2. the band AC/DC was the original act I discovered on my own. the lead guitarist, the lead guitarist, was my idol.

As I took the stage, I performed my act to the band's that classic track. The crowd started chanting “Angus”, just like the album track, and it hit me: this must be to be a music icon. I made it to the finals, playing 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 judge one year, and started the show once more, but I stayed out of the contest. I came back at 18, experimented with various stage names, but fans continued using “Little Angus” so I accepted it fully and adopt “The Angus” as my artist name. I’ve qualified for the last round each competition since then, and in 2023 I placed second, so I was set to take the title this year.

The air guitar community is like a support system. Our guiding principle is ‘Play air guitar, avoid battles’. It sounds silly, but it’s a true ethos.

The competition itself is intense but joyful. Competitors have a short window to give everything – high-powered performance, flawless imitation, performance charm – on an invisible guitar. Adjudicators score you on a grading system from 4.0 to 6.0. When it's a draw, there’s an “tiebreaker” between the remaining participants: a tune begins and you freestyle.

Preparation is everything. I chose an the band Avenged Sevenfold song for my routine. I had it on repeat for weeks. I practiced flexibility, trying to get my lower body flexible enough to jump, my hands fast enough to imitate guitar parts and my upper body ready for those gestures and hops. Once competition day came, I could internalize the track in my being.

Once all acts were done, the points were announced, and I had drawn with the winner from Japan, the Japanese titleholder – it was occasion for an final showdown. We faced off to the Guns N’ Roses hit by the rock group. When I heard the song, I felt comforted because it was a tune I recognized, and more than anything I was so excited to perform one more time. As they declared I’d won, the venue went wild.

My memory is blurry. I think I lost consciousness from shock. Then all present started singing Neil Young’s that well-known track and hoisted me on to their backs. Justin Howard – alias Nordic Thunder – a previous titleholder and one of my closest friends, was holding me. I cried. I was the first Finnish air guitar global winner in 25 years. The previous Finnish champion, the earlier victor, was there, too. He bestowed upon me the warmest embrace and said it was “finally happening”.

This worldwide group is like a support system. The phrase we live by is “Create music, not conflict”. It sounds silly, but it’s a genuine belief. People come from all over the world, and all involved is positive and uplifting. As you prepare to compete, every competitor offers an embrace. Then for 60 seconds you’re able to be yourself, silly, the top performer in the world.

I’m also a beat keeper and guitarist in a musical act with my sibling called the group title, inspired by Gareth Southgate, as we’re inspired by Britpop and new wave. I’ve been bartending for a few years now, and I direct independent videos and song visuals. Winning hasn’t changed my day-to-day life drastically but I’ve been doing a lot of press, and I aspire it leads to more innovative opportunities. The city will be a designated cultural center the coming year, so there are great prospects.

At present, I’m just thankful: for the community, for the opportunity to play, and for that little kid who picked up a newspaper and thought, “That's for me.”