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Back when I was 10, I read about a story in my community gazette about the Global Air Guitar Contest, which take place every year in my native city of Oulu, Finland. Mom and Dad had volunteered at the very first contest back in 1996 – my mother gave out flyers, dad managed the music. From that point, national championships have been organized globally, with the winners converging in Oulu every summer.

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

As a kid, I was always performing air guitar, miming along to the most popular rock tunes with my make-believe instrument. Mom and Dad were lovers of music – my dad loved The Boss and U2. AC/DC was the original act I stumbled upon myself. the guitarist, the lead guitarist, was my inspiration.

As I took the stage, I played my set to AC/DC’s that classic track. The audience started shouting “Angus”, reminiscent of the album track, and it hit me: so this is to be a guitar hero. I advanced to the last round, competing to hundreds of people in Oulu’s market square, and I was captivated. I earned the moniker “Little Angus” that day.

Then I took a break. I was a adjudicator one year, and started the show once more, but I didn’t compete. I came back at 18, tried a few different stage names, but people kept calling me “Little Angus” so I accepted it fully and choose “The Angus” as my performance alias. I’ve made it to the final each competition since then, and in 2023 I was the runner-up, so I was determined to claim victory this year.

The air guitar community is like a family. Our guiding principle is ‘Play air guitar, avoid battles’. It sounds silly, but it’s a genuine belief.

The contest is high-energy yet fun. Competitors have 60 seconds to deliver maximum effort – high-powered performance, perfect mime, rock star charisma – on an nonexistent axe. Adjudicators score you on a scale from a specific numeric range. In the case of a tie, there’s an “showdown” between the last two competitors: a track is selected and you create on the spot.

Preparation is everything. I chose an the band Avenged Sevenfold song for my performance. I had it on repeat for weeks. I stretched constantly, trying to get my limbs loose enough to jump, my digits quick enough to imitate guitar parts and my upper body prepared for those bends and jumps. Once the event came, I could feel the song in my soul.

When the show concluded, the scores came in, and I had matched with the winner from Japan, a competitor known as Sudo-chan – it was time for an air-off. We faced off to the Guns N’ Roses hit by Guns N’ Roses. When I heard the song, I felt comforted because it was a tune I recognized, and more than anything I was so thrilled to perform one more time. Once the results were read I’d won, the venue erupted.

The moment is hazy. I think I lost consciousness from shock. Then all present started chanting the song that well-known track and raised me up on to their shoulders. One of the greats – AKA his stage name – a previous titleholder and one of my dear companions, was holding me. I cried. I was the inaugural from Finland air guitar international titleholder in 25 years. The prior titleholder, Markus “Black Raven” Vainionpää, was there, too. He offered me the most heartfelt squeeze and said it was “long overdue”.

Our global network is like a family. Our motto is “Focus on fun, not fighting”. It sounds silly, but it’s a true way of life. Participants come from all over the world, and all involved is positive and uplifting. As you prepare to compete, all participants comes and hugs you. Then for 60 seconds you’re able to be yourself, silly, the ultimate music icon in the world.

I’m also a percussionist and musician in a musical act with my brother called the band name, inspired by the football manager, as we’re fans of Britpop and new wave. I’ve been serving drinks for a few years now, and I produce independent videos and performance clips. The victory hasn’t changed my day-to-day life significantly but I’ve been doing a many interviews, and I hope it brings more creative work. The city will be a designated cultural center soon, so there are great prospects.

Currently, I’m just appreciative: for the group, for the chance to perform, and for that young child who picked up a newspaper and thought, “I want to do that.”