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When I was just 10, I read about a feature in my hometown newspaper about the Global Air Guitar Contest, held annually every year in my hometown of Oulu, Finland. My family had helped out at the pioneering contest since 1996 – mom gave out flyers, dad managed the music. From that point, national championships have been held globally, with the titleholders gathering in Oulu each August.

Initially, I requested permission if I could enter. They weren't sure at first; the event was in a bar, and there would be an older crowd. They felt it might be an daunting atmosphere, but I was determined.

In my youth, I was always performing air guitar, acting out to the biggest rock tunes with my imaginary instrument. My parents were lovers of music – my father 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 frontman guitarist, was my hero.

When I stepped on stage, I played my set to the band's Whole Lotta Rosie. The spectators started chanting “Angus”, just like the concert version, and it dawned on me: this is what it feels like to be a rock star. I advanced to the last round, playing to hundreds of people in the town square, and I was hooked. I got the nickname “Little Angus” that day.

Later I paused. I was a referee one year, and opened for the show another time, but I didn't participate. I went 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 annually from 2022 onward, and in 2023 I came second, so I was resolved to win this year.

The worldwide group is like a support system. Our guiding principle is ‘Make air, not war’. It may seem funny, but it’s a real philosophy.

The contest is intense but joyful. Competitors have one minute to deliver maximum effort – high-powered performance, precise mimicry, stage magnetism – on an imaginary instrument. Adjudicators rate you on a grading system from a specific numeric range. In the case of a tie, there’s an “tiebreaker” between the last two competitors: a track is selected and you improvise.

Training is crucial. I selected an Avenged Sevenfold song for my routine. I played it repeatedly for weeks. I stretched constantly, trying to get my lower body loose enough to jump, my fingers fast enough to mimic solos and my upper body ready for those gestures and hops. When the big day arrived, I could internalize the track in my being.

After everyone had performed, the results were tallied, and I had matched with the winner from Japan, a competitor known as Sudo-chan – it was moment for an tiebreaker. We competed directly to the Guns N’ Roses hit by the iconic band. Once the track began, I felt comforted because it was one that I knew, and above all I was so eager to perform one more time. As they declared I’d triumphed, the venue exploded.

The moment is hazy. I think I zoned out from the excitement. Then the crowd started chanting the classic tune the anthem Rockin' in the Free World and raised me up on to their shoulders. One of the greats – AKA Nordic Thunder – a former champion and one of my closest friends, was holding me. I wept. I was the first Finnish air guitar global winner in 25 years. The previous Finnish champion, Markus “Black Raven” Vainionpää, was there, too. He bestowed upon me the most heartfelt squeeze and said it was “long overdue”.

This worldwide group is like a support system. Our motto is “Make air, not war”. Though it appears comical, but it’s a genuine belief. Participants come from globally, and each person is helpful and motivating. Before you go on stage, each contestant comes and hugs you. Then for a brief period you’re able to be yourself, silly, the biggest rock star in the world.

Besides that, I'm a percussionist and string player in a group with my sibling called the band name, referencing the sports figure, as we’re inspired by British music genres. I’ve been serving drinks for a couple of years, and I create short films and song visuals. The title hasn’t changed my day-to-day life significantly but I’ve been doing a extensive media, and I aspire it leads to more artistic projects. The city will be a designated cultural center next year, so there are great prospects.

Currently, I’m just thankful: for the network, for the chance to perform, and for that budding enthusiast who picked up a newspaper and thought, “I want to do that.”