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Back when I was 10, I came across a feature in my community gazette about the Global Air Guitar Contest, held annually every year in my native city of Oulu, Finland. My family had participated at the pioneering contest starting from 1996 – mom distributed flyers, my dad sorted the music. Ever since, national championships have been staged all across the world, with the champions converging in Oulu every summer.

At the time, I inquired with my family if I could enter. Initially they had doubts; the show was in a bar, and there would be an older crowd. They thought it might be an intimidating atmosphere, but I was determined.

During childhood, I was always performing air guitar, acting out to the most popular rock tunes with my invisible instrument. My family were music fans – my father loved Bruce Springsteen and the Irish rock band. AC/DC was the first band I discovered on my own. Angus Young, the frontman guitarist, was my hero.

As I took the stage, I performed my act to the band's Whole Lotta Rosie. The crowd started chanting “Angus”, just like the live recording, and it struck me: this is what it feels like to be a guitar hero. I made it to the finals, playing to hundreds of people in the town square, and I was hooked. I earned the moniker “Little Angus” that day.

After that I stopped. I was a adjudicator one year, and started the show once more, but I didn't participate. I went back at 18, tried a few different stage names, but everyone still referred to me as “Little Angus” so I embraced it and adopt “The Angus” as my artist name. I’ve qualified for the last round annually from 2022 onward, and in 2023 I placed second, so I was set to take the title this year.

Our global network is like a support system. The saying we live by is ‘Create music, not conflict’. Though it appears humorous, but it’s a real philosophy.

The contest is high-energy yet fun. Competitors have one minute to put their all – dynamic presence, flawless imitation, performance charm – on an invisible guitar. Judges score you on a grading system from 4.0 to 6.0. 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 picked an a metal group song for my routine. I played it repeatedly for a long time. I stretched constantly, trying to get my lower body flexible enough to bound, my fingers quick enough to copy riffs and my back set for those bends and jumps. When competition day dawned, I could sense the music in my bones.

After everyone had performed, the scores came in, and I had drawn with the titleholder from Japan, Yuta “Sudo-chan” Sudo – it was time for an air-off. We went head-to-head to that classic rock anthem by the rock group. As the music started, I felt relieved because it was a tune I recognized, and primarily I was so thrilled to play again. Once the results were read I’d won, the area went wild.

It's all a bit fuzzy. I think I lost consciousness from surprise. Then everyone started singing the song Rockin’ in the Free World and raised me up on to their backs. Justin Howard – alias Nordic Thunder – a past winner and one of my closest friends, was embracing me. I shed tears. I was Finland’s first air guitar world champion in a quarter-century. The prior titleholder, the former champion, was there, too. He gave 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”. It sounds silly, but it’s a real philosophy. Competitors come from globally, and each person is supportive and encouraging. Before you go on stage, every competitor shows support. Then for one minute you’re able to be free, playful, the biggest rock star in the world.

Additionally, I am a beat keeper and string player in a musical act with my family member called the group title, named after the football manager, as we’re inspired by UK rock and post-punk. I’ve been serving drinks for a couple of years, and I produce independent videos and song visuals. The victory hasn’t changed my day-to-day life too much but I’ve been doing a extensive media, and I aspire it leads to more innovative opportunities. My hometown will be a European capital of culture soon, so there are great prospects.

For now, I’m just grateful: for the community, for the chance to perform, and for that little kid who picked up a newspaper and thought, “That's for me.”