I'm the Air Guitar World Champion

Back when I was 10, I came across a feature in my hometown newspaper about the World Air Guitar Competition, that happens every year in my native city of Oulu, Finland. Mom and Dad had volunteered at the very first contest starting from 1996 – mom gave out flyers, my father organized the music. From that point, national championships have been organized globally, with the champions assembling in Oulu annually.

Initially, I asked my parents if I could participate. 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 resolved.

As a kid, I was always performing air guitar, pretending to play to the most popular rock tunes with my imaginary instrument. Mom and Dad were music fans – my father loved The Boss and U2. the Australian rockers was the original act I found independently. the guitarist, the lead guitarist, was my inspiration.

Upon entering the spotlight, I played my set to the band's the song Whole Lotta Rosie. The crowd started shouting “Angus”, just like the album track, and it dawned on me: so this is to be a music icon. I advanced to the last round, playing to hundreds of people in the public plaza, and I was hooked. I was dubbed “Little Angus” that day.

Later I paused. I was a judge one year, and opened for the show another time, but I didn't participate. I returned at 18, tested out several stage names, but everyone still referred to me as “Little Angus” so I decided to own it and make “The Angus” as my artist name. I’ve made it to the final every year since 2022, and in 2023 I was the runner-up, so I was resolved to take the title this year.

The air guitar community is like a family. Our guiding principle is ‘Create music, not conflict’. Though it appears humorous, but it’s a true ethos.

The competition itself is competitive but uplifting. Participants have a short window to deliver maximum effort – dynamic presence, flawless imitation, performance charm – on an nonexistent axe. Judges evaluate you on a point range from four to six. If scores are equal, there’s an “air-off” between the final two contestants: a track is selected and you improvise.

Training is crucial. I picked an a metal group song for my act. I listened to it on a loop for weeks. I practiced flexibility, trying to get my legs prepared enough to jump, my digits nimble enough to imitate guitar parts and my upper body ready for those moves and leaps. Once the big day dawned, I could feel the song in my being.

When the show concluded, the scores came in, and I had drawn with the titleholder from Japan, a competitor known as Sudo-chan – it was occasion for an tiebreaker. We competed directly to Sweet Child o’ Mine by the iconic band. Once the track began, I felt at ease because it was a tune I recognized, and more than anything I was so thrilled to perform one more time. As they declared I’d emerged victorious, the venue went wild.

My memory is blurry. I think I blacked out from the excitement. Then everyone started singing the song the anthem Rockin' in the Free World and raised me up on to their backs. A former champion – alias his stage name – a former champion and one of my closest friends, was embracing me. I shed tears. I was the first Finnish air guitar global winner in two and a half decades. The previous Finnish champion, the former champion, was there, too. He gave me the warmest embrace and said it was “about damn time”.

Our global network is like a close-knit group. Our motto is “Focus on fun, not fighting”. It may seem humorous, but it’s a real philosophy. Participants come from globally, and all involved is positive and uplifting. As you prepare to compete, all participants offers an embrace. Then for a brief period you’re allowed to be uninhibited, playful, the biggest rock star in the world.

Besides that, I'm a percussionist and musician in a group with my sibling called the Southgates, inspired by Gareth Southgate, as we’re fans of British music genres. I’ve been bartending for a short time, and I direct mini movies and music videos. The victory hasn’t affected my daily activities drastically but I’ve been doing a extensive media, and I aspire it brings more artistic projects. Oulu will be a European capital of culture soon, so there are promising opportunities.

For now, I’m just thankful: for the community, for the chance to perform, and for that little kid who read an article and thought, “I want to do that.”