I Am the Air Guitar World Champion

At the age of 10, I read about a article in my community gazette about the World Air Guitar Competition, that happens every year in my hometown of Oulu, Finland. My parents had helped out at the pioneering contest starting from 1996 – my mother handed out flyers, dad managed the music. From that point, domestic competitions have been organized in many nations, with the titleholders assembling in Oulu each August.

Initially, I inquired with my family if I could compete. At first they were hesitant; the competition was in a bar, and there would be many grown-ups. They believed it might be an daunting atmosphere, but I was determined.

As a kid, I was always miming air guitar, miming along to the biggest rock tunes with my make-believe instrument. My family were music fans – dad loved The Boss and the Irish rock band. the band AC/DC was the first band I discovered on my own. the guitarist, the guitar hero, was my idol.

When I stepped on stage, I performed my act to the band's the song Whole Lotta Rosie. The crowd started chanting “Angus”, similar to the live recording, and it hit me: this must be to be a rock star. I reached the championship, playing to hundreds of people in the public plaza, and I was hooked. I got the nickname “Little Angus” that day.

Later I paused. I was a adjudicator one year, and opened for the show once more, but I didn’t compete. I came back at 18, experimented with various stage names, but people kept calling me “Little Angus” so I accepted it fully and adopt “The Angus” as my performance alias. I’ve made it to the final annually from 2022 onward, and in 2023 I placed second, so I was determined to win this year.

The worldwide group is like a close-knit group. The saying we live by is ‘Create music, not conflict’. Though it appears humorous, but it’s a real philosophy.

The contest is competitive but uplifting. Participants have one minute to deliver maximum effort – high-powered performance, flawless imitation, rock star charisma – on an imaginary instrument. Adjudicators evaluate you on a grading system from a specific numeric range. When it's a draw, there’s an “air-off” between the final two contestants: a track is selected and you create on the spot.

Getting ready is key. I selected an the band Avenged Sevenfold song for my act. I had it on repeat for a long time. I stretched constantly, trying to get my limbs loose enough to bound, my hands nimble enough to imitate guitar parts and my upper body ready for those bends and jumps. When competition day dawned, I could feel the song in my bones.

After everyone had performed, the results were tallied, and I had tied with the Japanese champion, the Japanese titleholder – it was moment for an final showdown. We went head-to-head to the Guns N’ Roses hit by the rock group. Once the track began, I felt comforted because it was one that I knew, and more than anything I was so thrilled to perform one more time. As they declared I’d won, the square exploded.

My memory is blurry. I think I zoned out from shock. Then everyone started singing Neil Young’s Rockin’ in the Free World and raised me up on to their arms. A former champion – also known as his stage name – a former champion and one of my dear companions, was embracing me. I cried. I was the first Finnish air guitar global winner in a quarter-century. The prior titleholder, the former champion, was there, too. He offered me the biggest hug and said it was “about damn time”.

The air guitar community is like a family. The phrase we live by is “Create music, not conflict”. It may seem humorous, but it’s a real philosophy. People come from many countries, and each person is helpful and motivating. Prior to performing, every competitor offers an embrace. Then for a brief period you’re allowed to be free, playful, the top performer in the world.

Besides that, I'm a drummer and musician in a band with my sibling called the Southgates, inspired by the football manager, as we’re influenced by UK rock and post-punk. I’ve been working in bars for a few years now, and I produce independent videos and song visuals. Winning hasn’t affected my daily activities too much but I’ve been doing a many interviews, and I hope it results in more creative work. Oulu will be a cultural hub soon, so there are promising opportunities.

At present, I’m just grateful: for the group, for the ability to compete, and for that little kid who found a story and thought, “I'd love to try that.”