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At the age of 10, I read about a story 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 volunteered at the pioneering contest starting from 1996 – my mum distributed flyers, my father organized the music. Ever since, national championships have been held globally, with the titleholders gathering in Oulu every summer.

Initially, I requested permission if I could compete. At first they were hesitant; the competition was in a bar, and there would be an older crowd. They felt it might be an intimidating atmosphere, but I was determined.

In my youth, I was always “playing” air guitar, pretending to play to the biggest rock tunes with my make-believe instrument. My family were music fans – dad loved Bruce Springsteen and the Irish rock band. the band AC/DC was the initial group I discovered on my own. the lead guitarist, the lead guitarist, was my idol.

When I stepped on stage, I performed my act to AC/DC’s the song Whole Lotta Rosie. The audience started shouting “Angus”, similar to the album track, and it dawned on me: this must be to be a guitar hero. I reached the championship, playing to hundreds of people in Oulu’s market square, and I was captivated. I was dubbed “Little Angus” that day.

Then I took a break. I was a judge one year, and kicked off the show another time, but I didn’t compete. I returned at 18, experimented with various stage names, but everyone still referred to me as “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 placed second, so I was set to win this year.

Our global network is like a support system. The saying we live by is ‘Play air guitar, avoid battles’. It sounds silly, but it’s a true ethos.

The competition itself is intense but joyful. Competitors have a short window to give everything – dynamic presence, perfect mime, rock star charisma – on an nonexistent axe. The panel score you on a point range from a specific numeric range. In the case of a tie, there’s an “air-off” between the remaining participants: a track is selected and you freestyle.

Getting ready is key. I picked an the band Avenged Sevenfold song for my performance. I played it repeatedly for multiple weeks. I stretched constantly, trying to get my limbs flexible enough to bound, my fingers quick enough to imitate guitar parts and my back ready for those moves and leaps. When competition day came, I could internalize the track in my soul.

After everyone had performed, the points were announced, and I had drawn with the titleholder from Japan, the Japanese titleholder – it was occasion for an tiebreaker. We faced off to the Guns N’ Roses hit by the rock group. As the music started, I felt at ease because it was one that I knew, and primarily I was so thrilled to have another go. As they declared I’d won, the square erupted.

My memory is blurry. I think I lost consciousness from surprise. Then everyone started performing the classic tune Rockin’ in the Free World and raised me up on to their arms. A former champion – alias Nordic Thunder – a previous titleholder and one of my closest friends, was hugging me. I cried. I was the first Finnish air guitar global winner in 25 years. The earlier winner from Finland, Markus “Black Raven” Vainionpää, was there, too. He gave me the most heartfelt squeeze and said it was “long overdue”.

This worldwide group is like a family. Our guiding saying is “Focus on fun, not fighting”. Though it appears comical, but it’s a genuine belief. Competitors come from all over the world, and everyone is helpful and motivating. Prior to performing, all participants shows support. Then for a brief period you’re free to be free, humorous, the top performer in the world.

Additionally, I am a beat keeper and string player in a group with my sibling called the Southgates, referencing the sports figure, as we’re fans of 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 lot of press, and I hope it leads to more creative work. Oulu will be a European capital of culture the coming year, so there are exciting things ahead.

For now, I’m just appreciative: for the group, for the chance to perform, and for that young child who picked up a newspaper and thought, “That's for me.”