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When I was just 10, I read about a article in my hometown newspaper about the World Air Guitar Competition, which take place every year in my native city of Oulu, Finland. My family had helped out at the pioneering contest back in 1996 – my mum handed out flyers, dad organized the music. From that point, country-level contests have been organized globally, with the champions gathering in Oulu every summer.

At the time, I inquired with my family if I could compete. At first they were hesitant; the show was in a bar, and there would be a lot of adults. They felt it might be an daunting atmosphere, but I was resolved.

As a kid, I was always miming air guitar, miming along to the iconic rock tunes with my invisible instrument. My parents were enthusiasts – my father loved The Boss and the Irish rock band. the band AC/DC was the initial group I discovered on my own. the guitarist, the guitar hero, was my hero.

When I stepped on stage, I played my set to AC/DC’s Whole Lotta Rosie. The audience started chanting “Angus”, just like the concert version, and it struck me: this must be to be a rock star. I reached the championship, competing to a large audience in the public plaza, and I was hooked. I got the nickname “Little Angus” that day.

Then I took a break. I was a referee one year, and kicked off the show another time, but I didn't participate. I returned at 18, experimented with various stage names, but people kept calling me “Little Angus” so I embraced it and adopt “The Angus” as my performance alias. I’ve qualified for the last round every year since 2022, and in 2023 I placed second, so I was set to win this year.

Our global network is like a family. Our motto is ‘Make air, not war’. It sounds silly, but it’s a genuine belief.

The event is high-energy yet fun. Contestants have one minute to deliver maximum effort – high-powered performance, precise mimicry, stage magnetism – on an imaginary instrument. Judges rate you on a grading system from a specific numeric range. When it's a draw, there’s an “tiebreaker” between the final two contestants: a track is selected and you freestyle.

Preparation is everything. I chose an the band Avenged Sevenfold song for my performance. I played it repeatedly for multiple weeks. I did regular stretches, trying to get my legs flexible enough to bound, my fingers quick enough to mimic solos and my spine set for those gestures and hops. By the time the big day dawned, I could internalize the track in my being.

When the show concluded, the scores came in, and I had drawn with the Japanese champion, the Japanese titleholder – it was occasion for an air-off. We went head-to-head to the Guns N’ Roses hit by the rock group. When I heard the song, I felt relieved because it was familiar to me, and primarily I was so excited to perform one more time. As they declared I’d won, the area went wild.

My memory is blurry. I think I lost consciousness from shock. Then everyone started performing the classic tune the anthem Rockin' in the Free World and raised me up on to their backs. Justin Howard – alias Nordic Thunder – a previous titleholder and one of my dear companions, was hugging me. I wept. I was the first Finnish air guitar global winner in two and a half decades. The prior titleholder, Markus “Black Raven” Vainionpää, was also present. He gave me the most heartfelt squeeze and said it was “long overdue”.

This worldwide group is like a close-knit group. Our motto is “Make air, not war”. It sounds silly, but it’s a genuine belief. Competitors come from many countries, and each person is helpful and motivating. As you prepare to compete, every competitor offers an embrace. Then for 60 seconds you’re free to be yourself, playful, the biggest rock star in the world.

Besides that, I'm a beat keeper and string player in a musical act with my family member called the Southgates, inspired by the sports figure, as we’re inspired by Britpop and new wave. I’ve been serving drinks for a short time, and I create short films and music videos. Winning hasn’t affected my daily activities significantly but I’ve been doing a lot of press, and I hope it brings more innovative opportunities. My hometown will be a European capital of culture the coming year, so there are exciting things ahead.

For now, I’m just grateful: for the group, for the opportunity to play, and for that little kid who found a story and thought, “That's for me.”