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When I was just 10, I discovered a article in my local paper about the Air Guitar World Championships, held annually every year in my birthplace of Oulu, Finland. My parents had volunteered at the inaugural contest starting from 1996 – my mum gave out flyers, my father sorted the music. From that point, domestic competitions have been held globally, with the titleholders converging in Oulu every summer.

Initially, 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 overwhelming atmosphere, but I was set on it.

As a kid, I was always performing air guitar, pretending to play to the biggest rock tunes with my imaginary instrument. Mom and Dad were lovers of music – my dad loved Bruce Springsteen and U2. the Australian rockers was the first band I found independently. the guitarist, the guitar hero, was my hero.

As I took the stage, I played my set to AC/DC’s Whole Lotta Rosie. The crowd started chanting “Angus”, similar to the concert version, and it hit me: so this is to be a rock star. I reached the championship, competing to hundreds of people in the town square, and I was captivated. I was dubbed “Little Angus” that day.

After that I stopped. I was a judge one year, and opened for the show on another occasion, but I stayed out of the contest. I came back at 18, experimented with various stage names, but fans continued using “Little Angus” so I decided to own it and make “The Angus” as my artist name. I’ve made it to the final every year since 2022, and in 2023 I placed second, so I was determined to claim victory this year.

The worldwide group is like a close-knit group. The saying we live by is ‘Play air guitar, avoid battles’. Though it appears humorous, but it’s a genuine belief.

The competition itself is intense but joyful. Contestants have 60 seconds to put their all – explosive energy, precise mimicry, performance charm – on an imaginary instrument. Adjudicators score you on a scale from 4.0 to 6.0. In the case of a tie, there’s an “air-off” between the remaining participants: a track is selected and you freestyle.

Training is crucial. I picked an a metal group song for my act. I listened to it on a loop for a long time. I stretched constantly, trying to get my lower body loose enough to bound, my fingers nimble enough to mimic solos and my upper body ready for those moves and leaps. When the event arrived, I could sense the music in my soul.

After everyone had performed, the results were tallied, and I had matched with the titleholder from Japan, the Japanese titleholder – it was time for an tiebreaker. We faced off to Sweet Child o’ Mine by the iconic band. As the music started, I felt relieved 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 emerged victorious, the square erupted.

It's all a bit fuzzy. I think I lost consciousness from shock. Then everyone started performing the classic tune that well-known track and raised me up on to their backs. Justin Howard – alias Nordic Thunder – a former champion and one of my dear companions, was hugging me. I shed tears. I was the first Finnish air guitar global winner in a quarter-century. The prior titleholder, Markus “Black Raven” Vainionpää, was there, too. He gave me the warmest embrace and said it was “about damn time”.

The air guitar community is like a close-knit group. The phrase we live by is “Create music, not conflict”. It may seem humorous, but it’s a real philosophy. People come from all over the world, and each person is positive and uplifting. Prior to performing, each contestant comes and hugs you. Then for one minute you’re able to be uninhibited, playful, the top performer in the world.

Besides that, I'm a beat keeper and string player in a musical act with my brother called the Southgates, named after Gareth Southgate, as we’re influenced by Britpop and new wave. I’ve been working in bars for a couple of years, and I direct independent videos and music videos. Winning hasn’t changed my day-to-day life too much but I’ve been doing a extensive media, and I aspire it results in more innovative opportunities. The city will be a European capital of culture the coming year, so there are promising opportunities.

At present, I’m just thankful: for the network, for the chance to perform, and for that budding enthusiast who found a story and thought, “That's for me.”