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Back when I was 10, I discovered a article in my community gazette about the Air Guitar World Championships, held annually every year in my native city of Oulu, Finland. My parents had helped out at the inaugural contest back in 1996 – my mother distributed flyers, my father managed the music. From that point, country-level contests have been staged all across the world, with the titleholders gathering in Oulu each August.

Back then, I asked my parents if I could compete. At first they were hesitant; the competition was in a bar, and there would be an older crowd. They thought it might be an daunting atmosphere, but I was resolved.

In my youth, I was always performing air guitar, pretending to play to the iconic rock tunes with my make-believe instrument. Mom and Dad were enthusiasts – dad loved The Boss and the Irish rock band. the band AC/DC was the initial group I found independently. the guitarist, the lead guitarist, was my inspiration.

As I took the stage, I did my routine to AC/DC’s Whole Lotta Rosie. The crowd started chanting “Angus”, just like the live recording, and it hit me: this is what it feels like to be a rock star. I reached the championship, competing to a large audience in the public plaza, and I was addicted. I earned the moniker “Little Angus” that day.

Then I took a break. I was a referee one year, and started the show once more, but I stayed out of the contest. I returned at 18, experimented with various stage names, but people kept calling me “Little Angus” so I accepted it fully and choose “The Angus” as my artist name. I’ve reached the finals each competition since then, and in 2023 I came second, so I was resolved to win this year.

Our global network is like a close-knit group. Our motto is ‘Create music, not conflict’. Though it appears humorous, but it’s a true ethos.

The contest is high-energy yet fun. Competitors have 60 seconds to deliver maximum effort – dynamic presence, perfect mime, rock star charisma – on an nonexistent axe. The panel evaluate you on a grading system from four to six. In the case of a tie, there’s an “air-off” between the final two contestants: a tune begins and you freestyle.

Preparation is everything. I chose an Avenged Sevenfold song for my routine. I played it repeatedly for a long time. I stretched constantly, trying to get my legs loose enough to bound, my fingers quick enough to copy riffs and my spine ready for those bends and jumps. Once competition day came, I could feel the song in my bones.

Once all acts were done, the scores came in, and I had matched with the Japanese champion, a competitor known as Sudo-chan – it was moment for an tiebreaker. We faced off to that classic rock anthem by the rock group. When I heard the song, I felt relieved because it was a tune I recognized, and more than anything I was so thrilled to perform one more time. As they declared I’d won, the square erupted.

It's all a bit fuzzy. I think I blacked out from the excitement. Then all present started chanting the song the anthem Rockin' in the Free World and hoisted me on to their shoulders. A former champion – alias Nordic Thunder – a past winner and one of my dear companions, was hugging me. I cried. I was Finland’s first air guitar international titleholder in a quarter-century. The earlier winner from Finland, the former champion, was in attendance as well. He gave me the warmest embrace and said it was “finally happening”.

Our global network is like a close-knit group. Our motto is “Create music, not conflict”. It may seem humorous, but it’s a genuine belief. Participants come from all over the world, and everyone is helpful and motivating. As you prepare to compete, all participants shows support. Then for one minute you’re able to be yourself, humorous, the top performer in the world.

Besides that, I'm a percussionist and string player in a band with my brother called the Southgates, named after the sports figure, as we’re influenced by British music genres. I’ve been serving drinks for a few years now, 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 wish it brings more creative work. The city will be a European capital of culture next year, so there are promising opportunities.

For now, I’m just appreciative: for the network, for the opportunity to play, and for that young child who found a story and thought, “I want to do that.”