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At the age of 10, I discovered a story in my community gazette about the Air Guitar World Championships, which take place every year in my hometown of Oulu, Finland. My family had helped out at the inaugural contest back in 1996 – my mum gave out flyers, my dad organized the music. Since then, national championships have been staged all across the world, with the champions gathering in Oulu every summer.

At the time, I asked my parents if I could participate. They weren't sure at first; the competition was in a bar, and there would be a lot of adults. They believed it might be an daunting atmosphere, but I was determined.

In my youth, I was always miming air guitar, pretending to play to the most popular rock tunes with my invisible instrument. My family were enthusiasts – my father loved The Boss and U2. the Australian rockers was the first band I found independently. the guitarist, the frontman guitarist, was my inspiration.

As I took the stage, I played my set to AC/DC’s that classic track. The crowd started yelling “Angus”, just like the concert version, and it struck me: this must be to be a music icon. I advanced to the last round, playing to crowds in the public plaza, and I was captivated. I earned the moniker “Little Angus” that day.

Later I paused. I was a adjudicator one year, and kicked off the show another time, but I didn't participate. I went back at 18, tried a few different stage names, but fans continued using “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 take the title this year.

The worldwide group is like a support system. Our motto is ‘Create music, not conflict’. Though it appears humorous, but it’s a real philosophy.

The competition itself is intense but joyful. Participants have one minute to put their all – high-powered performance, perfect mime, rock star charisma – on an invisible guitar. Adjudicators evaluate you on a point range from 4.0 to 6.0. In the case of a tie, there’s an “tiebreaker” between the remaining participants: a tune begins and you create on the spot.

Training is crucial. I selected an Avenged Sevenfold song for my performance. I played it repeatedly for a long time. I stretched constantly, trying to get my limbs loose enough to jump, my digits nimble enough to imitate guitar parts and my back ready for those bends and jumps. Once competition day came, I could feel the song in my bones.

When the show concluded, the scores came in, and I had tied with the Japanese champion, the Japanese titleholder – it was occasion for an air-off. We faced off to the Guns N’ Roses hit by Guns N’ Roses. Once the track began, I felt comforted because it was familiar to me, and more than anything I was so thrilled to perform one more time. Once the results were read I’d won, the area went wild.

My memory is blurry. I think I zoned out from shock. Then everyone started singing the song Rockin’ in the Free World and hoisted me on to their shoulders. Justin Howard – also known as his performer title – a past winner and one of my dear companions, was hugging me. I wept. I was Finland’s first air guitar world champion in two and a half decades. The prior titleholder, the earlier victor, was there, too. He bestowed upon me the biggest hug and said it was “long overdue”.

The air guitar community is like a family. Our motto is “Make air, not war”. It may seem humorous, but it’s a real philosophy. People come from globally, and everyone is supportive and encouraging. Before you go on stage, every competitor shows support. Then for 60 seconds you’re free to be uninhibited, playful, the top performer in the world.

Besides that, I'm a percussionist and musician in a group with my sibling called the group title, named after the football manager, as we’re fans of British music genres. I’ve been bartending for a short time, and I direct short films and song visuals. The victory hasn’t affected my daily activities significantly but I’ve been doing a lot of press, and I aspire it brings more innovative opportunities. Oulu will be a designated cultural center the coming year, so there are great prospects.

For now, I’m just grateful: for the group, for the opportunity to play, and for that little kid who found a story and thought, “I'd love to try that.”