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Back when I was 10, I discovered a story in my local paper about the Air Guitar World Championships, held annually every year in my native city of Oulu, Finland. Mom and Dad had helped out at the inaugural contest since 1996 – mom handed out flyers, my father managed the music. Ever since, national championships have been held all across the world, with the titleholders assembling in Oulu every summer.

Initially, I asked my parents if I could compete. At first they were hesitant; the show was in a bar, and there would be a lot of adults. They believed it might be an intimidating atmosphere, but I was resolved.

In my youth, I was always miming air guitar, acting out to the iconic rock tunes with my invisible instrument. My family were lovers of music – my dad loved Springsteen and U2. AC/DC was the first band I found independently. the lead guitarist, the frontman guitarist, was my idol.

As I took the stage, I played my set to the band's Whole Lotta Rosie. The crowd started yelling “Angus”, just like the album track, and it hit me: this is what it feels like to be a music icon. I advanced to the last round, playing to crowds in the town square, and I was hooked. I earned the moniker “Little Angus” that day.

After that I stopped. I was a referee one year, and started the show another time, but I didn’t compete. I returned at 18, tested out several stage names, but fans continued using “Little Angus” so I embraced it and adopt “The Angus” as my performance alias. I’ve reached the finals every year since 2022, and in 2023 I came second, so I was determined to take the title this year.

The worldwide group is like a family. Our motto is ‘Create music, not conflict’. It sounds silly, but it’s a genuine belief.

The contest is competitive but uplifting. Competitors have one minute to deliver maximum effort – high-powered performance, perfect mime, performance charm – on an nonexistent axe. Judges score you on a grading system from a specific numeric range. In the case of a tie, there’s an “air-off” between the remaining participants: a tune begins and you freestyle.

Training is crucial. I selected an a metal group song for my act. I played it repeatedly for multiple weeks. I did regular stretches, trying to get my lower body loose enough to bound, my fingers fast enough to mimic solos and my spine set for those moves and leaps. By the time competition day came, I could sense the music in my bones.

Once all acts were done, the results were tallied, and I had tied with the winner from Japan, Yuta “Sudo-chan” Sudo – it was occasion for an final showdown. We faced off to Sweet Child o’ Mine by the iconic band. When I heard the song, I felt comforted because it was one that I knew, and primarily I was so excited to perform one more time. Once the results were read I’d emerged victorious, the area went wild.

It's all a bit fuzzy. I think I zoned out from surprise. Then the crowd started chanting the song that well-known track and hoisted me on to their arms. Justin Howard – AKA Nordic Thunder – a past winner and one of my closest friends, was hugging me. I cried. I was the inaugural from Finland air guitar international titleholder in a quarter-century. The prior titleholder, Markus “Black Raven” Vainionpää, was also present. He gave me the warmest embrace and said it was “about damn time”.

This worldwide group is like a close-knit group. The phrase we live by is “Make air, not war”. Though it appears comical, but it’s a true way of life. People come from all over the world, and all involved is positive and uplifting. Prior to performing, each contestant offers an embrace. Then for one minute you’re able to be free, humorous, the ultimate music icon in the world.

I’m also a percussionist and string player in a group with my family member called the band name, named after Gareth Southgate, as we’re fans of Britpop and new wave. I’ve been working in bars for a few years now, and I direct independent videos and performance clips. Winning hasn’t affected my daily activities drastically but I’ve been doing a lot of press, and I wish it results in more innovative opportunities. My hometown will be a designated cultural center soon, so there are great prospects.

Currently, I’m just appreciative: for the group, for the ability to compete, and for that young child who picked up a newspaper and thought, “I'd love to try that.”