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When I was just 10, I read about a feature in my community gazette about the Global Air Guitar Contest, held annually every year in my birthplace of Oulu, Finland. My parents had participated at the very first contest since 1996 – mom handed out flyers, dad organized the music. From that point, country-level contests have been staged in many nations, with the winners gathering in Oulu annually.

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

In my youth, I was always performing air guitar, acting out to the biggest rock tunes with my invisible instrument. My family were lovers of music – my father loved Springsteen and the Irish rock band. AC/DC was the initial group I found independently. Angus Young, the frontman guitarist, was my inspiration.

Upon entering the spotlight, I performed my act to AC/DC’s Whole Lotta Rosie. The crowd started shouting “Angus”, reminiscent of the live recording, and it struck me: this must be to be a music icon. I made it to the finals, playing to crowds in the public plaza, and I was hooked. I got the nickname “Little Angus” that day.

After that I stopped. I was a judge one year, and started the show once more, but I didn't participate. I came back at 18, tried a few different stage names, but fans continued using “Little Angus” so I decided to own it and adopt “The Angus” as my performance alias. I’ve made it to the final annually from 2022 onward, and in 2023 I placed second, so I was set to win this year.

The worldwide group is like a family. The saying we live by is ‘Play air guitar, avoid battles’. It sounds silly, but it’s a genuine belief.

The competition itself is competitive but uplifting. Contestants have 60 seconds to give everything – explosive energy, perfect mime, stage magnetism – on an invisible guitar. Judges score you on a grading system from 4.0 to 6.0. If scores are equal, there’s an “air-off” between the last two competitors: a track is selected and you improvise.

Preparation is everything. I picked an a metal group song for my routine. I played it repeatedly for a long time. I did regular stretches, trying to get my lower body flexible enough to bound, my hands quick enough to imitate guitar parts and my spine set for those bends and jumps. By the time the event dawned, I could sense the music in my bones.

When the show concluded, the results were tallied, and I had matched with the titleholder from Japan, the Japanese titleholder – it was occasion for an tiebreaker. We went head-to-head to the Guns N’ Roses hit by the iconic band. As the music started, I felt relieved because it was familiar to me, and primarily I was so eager to have another go. When they announced I’d emerged victorious, the square exploded.

The moment is hazy. I think I zoned out from shock. Then everyone started performing Neil Young’s the anthem Rockin' in the Free World and hoisted me on to their backs. A former champion – alias his performer title – a past winner and one of my best pals, was holding me. I wept. I was Finland’s first air guitar world champion in a quarter-century. The prior titleholder, Markus “Black Raven” Vainionpää, was in attendance as well. He bestowed upon me the biggest hug and said it was “long overdue”.

Our global network is like a family. Our motto is “Focus on fun, not fighting”. Though it appears comical, but it’s a true way of life. Competitors come from globally, and each person is helpful and motivating. Before you go on stage, every competitor offers an embrace. Then for 60 seconds you’re free to be yourself, silly, 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 the football manager, as we’re fans of British music genres. I’ve been serving drinks for a few years now, and I direct independent videos and performance clips. The title hasn’t changed my day-to-day life too much but I’ve been doing a lot of press, and I wish it leads to more artistic projects. Oulu will be a designated cultural center next year, so there are great prospects.

At present, I’m just appreciative: for the community, for the chance to perform, and for that young child who found a story and thought, “That's for me.”