I'm the Air Guitar World Champion

When I was just 10, I read about a feature in my local paper about the World Air Guitar Competition, held annually every year in my native city of Oulu, Finland. My parents had volunteered at the inaugural contest since 1996 – mom gave out flyers, my dad sorted the music. Since then, national championships have been held in many nations, with the champions assembling in Oulu each August.

Back then, I asked my parents if I could participate. Initially they had doubts; the competition was in a bar, and there would be many grown-ups. They thought it might be an intimidating atmosphere, but I was resolved.

As a kid, I was always performing air guitar, miming along to the iconic rock tunes with my make-believe instrument. My parents were lovers of music – dad loved Springsteen and U2. the Australian rockers was the first band I discovered on my own. Angus Young, the frontman guitarist, was my hero.

Upon entering the spotlight, I played my set to the band's that classic track. The spectators started shouting “Angus”, reminiscent of the concert version, and it hit me: this is what it feels like to be a guitar hero. I made it to the finals, competing to hundreds of people in Oulu’s market square, and I was hooked. I earned the moniker “Little Angus” that day.

Then I took a break. I was a judge one year, and started the show once more, but I didn’t compete. 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 make “The Angus” as my stage name. I’ve reached the finals each competition since then, and in 2023 I was the runner-up, so I was set to win this year.

The air guitar community is like a close-knit group. Our guiding principle is ‘Make air, not war’. Though it appears humorous, but it’s a true ethos.

The event is high-energy yet fun. Participants have a short window to deliver maximum effort – explosive energy, perfect mime, performance charm – on an invisible guitar. Judges evaluate you on a scale from a specific numeric range. If scores are equal, there’s an “showdown” between the final two contestants: a tune begins and you improvise.

Getting ready is key. I chose an the band Avenged Sevenfold song for my routine. I had it on repeat for multiple weeks. I did regular stretches, trying to get my lower body flexible enough to leap, my fingers nimble enough to copy riffs and my back set for those moves and leaps. By the time the event dawned, I could sense the music in my soul.

Once all acts were done, the results were tallied, and I had drawn with the winner from Japan, the Japanese titleholder – it was moment for an tiebreaker. We went head-to-head to that classic rock anthem by the rock group. When I heard the song, I felt comforted because it was familiar to me, and primarily I was so thrilled to play again. Once the results were read I’d emerged victorious, the area went wild.

The moment is hazy. I think I blacked out from surprise. Then everyone started performing the song Rockin’ in the Free World and lifted me on to their arms. One of the greats – AKA his stage name – a past winner and one of my best pals, was holding me. I shed tears. I was the first Finnish air guitar world champion in two and a half decades. The previous Finnish champion, Markus “Black Raven” Vainionpää, was there, too. He gave me the biggest hug and said it was “finally happening”.

The air guitar community is like a family. Our motto is “Focus on fun, not fighting”. It sounds silly, but it’s a real philosophy. Competitors come from all over the world, and everyone is helpful and motivating. As you prepare to compete, all participants offers an embrace. Then for a brief period you’re allowed to be yourself, playful, the top performer in the world.

Besides that, I'm a beat keeper and guitarist in a musical act with my sibling called the Southgates, referencing Gareth Southgate, as we’re fans of British music genres. I’ve been serving drinks for a short time, and I direct mini movies and music videos. Winning hasn’t changed my day-to-day life significantly but I’ve been doing a many interviews, and I hope it leads to more artistic projects. Oulu will be a European capital of culture the coming year, so there are exciting things ahead.

For now, I’m just thankful: for the community, for the chance to perform, and for that budding enthusiast who found a story and thought, “I want to do that.”