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Back when I was 10, I read about a story in my community gazette about the Air Guitar World Championships, that happens every year in my birthplace of Oulu, Finland. My parents had participated at the very first contest back in 1996 – my mother distributed flyers, my dad managed the music. Since then, national championships have been held globally, with the champions assembling in Oulu every summer.

Back then, I requested permission if I could compete. Initially they had doubts; the competition was in a bar, and there would be many grown-ups. They felt it might be an intimidating atmosphere, but I was set on it.

During childhood, I was always “playing” air guitar, pretending to play to the most popular rock tunes with my invisible instrument. My parents were enthusiasts – my father loved Bruce Springsteen and the Irish rock band. the Australian rockers was the original act I discovered on my own. Angus Young, the guitar hero, was my idol.

When I stepped on stage, I did my routine to AC/DC’s Whole Lotta Rosie. The spectators started shouting “Angus”, just like the album track, and it hit me: this must be to be a music icon. I reached the championship, performing to hundreds of people in the town square, and I was hooked. I earned the moniker “Little Angus” that day.

After that I stopped. I was a adjudicator one year, and opened for the show another time, but I stayed out of the contest. I came back at 18, tried a few different stage names, but people kept calling me “Little Angus” so I decided to own it and make “The Angus” as my artist name. I’ve reached the finals every year since 2022, and in 2023 I was the runner-up, so I was resolved to claim victory this year.

The worldwide group is like a family. The saying we live by is ‘Create music, not conflict’. It sounds silly, but it’s a real philosophy.

The contest is high-energy yet fun. Participants have 60 seconds to deliver maximum effort – high-powered performance, flawless imitation, stage magnetism – on an invisible guitar. Adjudicators rate you on a scale from four to six. When it's a draw, there’s an “tiebreaker” between the final two contestants: a track is selected and you create on the spot.

Training is crucial. I chose an a metal group song for my act. I had it on repeat for a long time. I stretched constantly, trying to get my legs prepared enough to leap, my hands quick enough to mimic solos and my spine set for those bends and jumps. Once the big day dawned, I could feel the song in my soul.

After everyone had performed, the points were announced, and I had drawn with the winner from Japan, the Japanese titleholder – it was moment for an final showdown. We competed directly to the Guns N’ Roses hit by the iconic band. When I heard the song, I felt comforted because it was a tune I recognized, and more than anything I was so thrilled to play again. Once the results were read I’d won, the square went wild.

My memory is blurry. I think I lost consciousness from shock. Then the crowd started singing Neil Young’s that well-known track and raised me up on to their shoulders. A former champion – also known as Nordic Thunder – a past winner and one of my dear companions, was embracing me. I cried. I was the inaugural from Finland air guitar international titleholder in 25 years. The prior titleholder, the earlier victor, was in attendance as well. He bestowed upon me the most heartfelt squeeze and said it was “about damn time”.

Our global network is like a close-knit group. Our guiding saying is “Focus on fun, not fighting”. It may seem humorous, but it’s a genuine belief. People come from all over the world, and each person is positive and uplifting. Before you go on stage, all participants shows support. Then for one minute you’re allowed to be uninhibited, silly, the top performer in the world.

I’m also a beat keeper and string player in a group with my brother called the band name, named after the sports figure, as we’re influenced by Britpop and new wave. I’ve been bartending for a couple of years, and I direct short films and song visuals. Winning hasn’t affected my daily activities too much but I’ve been doing a lot of press, and I wish it brings more artistic projects. Oulu will be a European capital of culture next year, so there are exciting things ahead.

Currently, I’m just appreciative: for the network, for the ability to compete, and for that little kid who read an article and thought, “I want to do that.”