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When I was just 10, I came across a feature in my community gazette about the World Air Guitar Competition, which take place every year in my native city of Oulu, Finland. My parents had participated at the pioneering contest starting from 1996 – my mum gave out flyers, dad managed the music. Since then, national championships have been organized all across the world, with the winners assembling in Oulu annually.

At the time, I requested permission if I could enter. At first they were hesitant; the show was in a bar, and there would be many grown-ups. They believed it might be an intimidating atmosphere, but I was resolved.

During childhood, I was always miming air guitar, pretending to play to the iconic rock tunes with my invisible instrument. My parents were music fans – my father loved Bruce Springsteen and the Irish rock band. AC/DC was the initial group I discovered on my own. Angus Young, the lead guitarist, was my idol.

As I took the stage, I did my routine to the band's the song Whole Lotta Rosie. The audience started shouting “Angus”, similar to the concert version, and it struck me: this is what it feels like to be a rock star. I reached the championship, competing to a large audience in Oulu’s market square, and I was hooked. I got the nickname “Little Angus” that day.

Then I took a break. I was a referee one year, and started the show on another occasion, but I stayed out of the contest. I came back at 18, tried a few different stage names, but everyone still referred to me as “Little Angus” so I accepted it fully and make “The Angus” as my artist name. I’ve reached the finals annually from 2022 onward, and in 2023 I came second, so I was set to take the title this year.

The worldwide group is like a close-knit group. The saying we live by is ‘Make air, not war’. It may seem funny, but it’s a true ethos.

The contest is intense but joyful. Contestants have a short window to deliver maximum effort – high-powered performance, perfect mime, rock star charisma – on an imaginary instrument. Adjudicators score you on a scale from 4.0 to 6.0. If scores are equal, there’s an “showdown” between the remaining participants: a song plays and you create on the spot.

Training is crucial. I selected an Avenged Sevenfold song for my performance. I had it on repeat for a long time. I practiced flexibility, trying to get my legs loose enough to leap, my digits fast enough to mimic solos and my spine ready for those moves and leaps. By the time the big day came, I could feel the song in my being.

When the show concluded, the points were announced, and I had drawn with the winner from Japan, the Japanese titleholder – 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 relieved because it was familiar to me, and above all I was so excited to play again. As they declared I’d won, the square went wild.

The moment is hazy. I think I blacked out from the excitement. Then the crowd started singing the song the anthem Rockin' in the Free World and hoisted me on to their arms. One of the greats – also known as 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 global winner in a quarter-century. The prior titleholder, Markus “Black Raven” Vainionpää, was in attendance as well. He gave me the most heartfelt squeeze and said it was “finally happening”.

This worldwide group is like a support system. Our guiding saying is “Create music, not conflict”. It may seem humorous, but it’s a genuine belief. Participants come from all over the world, and each person is helpful and motivating. As you prepare to compete, all participants offers an embrace. Then for a brief period you’re able to be uninhibited, humorous, the top performer in the world.

Besides that, I'm a percussionist and guitarist in a band with my brother called the group title, named after the sports figure, as we’re inspired by UK rock and post-punk. I’ve been bartending for a couple of years, and I produce mini movies and performance clips. The title hasn’t affected my daily activities drastically but I’ve been doing a many interviews, and I hope it results in more creative work. Oulu will be a cultural hub soon, so there are exciting things ahead.

For now, I’m just thankful: for the community, for the chance to perform, and for that budding enthusiast who read an article and thought, “I want to do that.”