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At the age of 10, I read about a article in my community gazette about the Air Guitar World Championships, held annually every year in my hometown of Oulu, Finland. My parents had participated at the very first contest back in 1996 – my mother handed out flyers, my father organized the music. From that point, domestic competitions have been organized all across the world, with the champions converging in Oulu annually.

Initially, I asked my parents if I could compete. 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.

In my youth, I was always miming air guitar, miming along to the biggest rock tunes with my imaginary instrument. My parents were lovers of music – my dad loved Bruce Springsteen and the Irish rock band. the band AC/DC was the original act I found independently. the guitarist, the guitar hero, was my idol.

As I took the stage, I performed my act to the band's the song Whole Lotta Rosie. The audience started chanting “Angus”, reminiscent of the album track, and it dawned on me: so this is to be a music icon. I advanced to the last round, playing to hundreds of people in the town square, and I was captivated. I got the nickname “Little Angus” that day.

After that I stopped. I was a referee one year, and opened for the show on another occasion, but I stayed out of the contest. I came back at 18, experimented with various stage names, but people kept calling me “Little Angus” so I embraced it and choose “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 set to take the title this year.

Our global network is like a close-knit group. Our guiding principle is ‘Play air guitar, avoid battles’. It sounds silly, but it’s a real philosophy.

The competition itself is competitive but uplifting. Participants have one minute to put their all – explosive energy, flawless imitation, stage magnetism – on an nonexistent axe. Adjudicators rate you on a scale from a specific numeric range. When it's a draw, there’s an “air-off” between the last two competitors: a tune begins and you improvise.

Training is crucial. I picked an Avenged Sevenfold song for my performance. I listened to it on a loop for multiple weeks. I stretched constantly, trying to get my lower body loose enough to bound, my digits fast enough to copy riffs and my spine set for those gestures and hops. By the time competition day came, I could feel the song in my soul.

After everyone had performed, the points were announced, and I had drawn with the titleholder from Japan, a competitor known as Sudo-chan – it was moment for an air-off. We went head-to-head to that classic rock anthem by the rock group. Once the track began, I felt comforted because it was one that I knew, and more than anything I was so thrilled to perform one more time. When they announced I’d emerged victorious, the venue exploded.

The moment is hazy. I think I blacked out from the excitement. Then all present started chanting the classic tune the anthem Rockin' in the Free World and hoisted me on to their shoulders. One of the greats – alias Nordic Thunder – a past winner and one of my dear companions, was hugging me. I shed tears. I was the inaugural from Finland air guitar world champion in a quarter-century. The earlier winner from Finland, Markus “Black Raven” Vainionpää, was there, too. He gave me the biggest hug and said it was “finally happening”.

The air guitar community is like a family. The phrase we live by is “Focus on fun, not fighting”. Though it appears comical, but it’s a genuine belief. Competitors come from many countries, and all involved is helpful and motivating. Before you go on stage, each contestant comes and hugs you. Then for a brief period you’re able to be free, silly, the biggest rock star in the world.

Besides that, I'm a drummer and musician in a band with my sibling called the Southgates, referencing the football manager, as we’re fans of British music genres. I’ve been working in bars for a short time, and I direct short films and song visuals. The title hasn’t altered my routine significantly but I’ve been doing a lot of press, and I hope it leads to more artistic projects. My hometown will be a cultural hub soon, so there are exciting things ahead.

Currently, I’m just appreciative: for the network, for the opportunity to play, and for that budding enthusiast who picked up a newspaper and thought, “I'd love to try that.”