I Am the Air Guitar Global Winner

When I was just 10, I came across a story in my hometown newspaper about the World Air Guitar Competition, which take place every year in my birthplace of Oulu, Finland. My parents had participated at the very first contest back in 1996 – my mother handed out flyers, my father sorted the music. From that point, national championships have been held globally, with the titleholders assembling in Oulu each August.

Back then, I requested permission if I could compete. At first they were hesitant; the competition was in a bar, and there would be many grown-ups. They felt it might be an overwhelming atmosphere, but I was set on it.

As a kid, I was always miming air guitar, miming along to the iconic rock tunes with my imaginary instrument. Mom and Dad were lovers of music – my dad loved Springsteen and the Irish rock band. AC/DC was the first band I found independently. the lead guitarist, the frontman guitarist, was my inspiration.

As I took the stage, I performed my act to AC/DC’s that classic track. The spectators started shouting “Angus”, similar to the live recording, and it hit me: this must be to be a music icon. I advanced to the last round, performing to crowds in Oulu’s market square, and I was hooked. I got the nickname “Little Angus” that day.

Later I paused. I was a referee one year, and started the show on another occasion, but I stayed out of the contest. 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 adopt “The Angus” as my stage name. I’ve made it to the final each competition since then, and in 2023 I placed second, so I was resolved to win this year.

Our global network is like a support system. Our guiding principle is ‘Create music, not conflict’. Though it appears humorous, but it’s a real philosophy.

The competition itself is high-energy yet fun. Competitors have one minute to give everything – explosive energy, precise mimicry, stage magnetism – on an imaginary instrument. The panel evaluate you on a point range from four to six. In the case of a tie, there’s an “air-off” between the final two contestants: a track is selected and you create on the spot.

Preparation is everything. I selected an Avenged Sevenfold song for my act. I listened to it on a loop for weeks. I practiced flexibility, trying to get my lower body flexible enough to bound, my digits fast enough to mimic solos and my back ready for those moves and leaps. Once the event came, I could sense the music in my bones.

When the show concluded, the points were announced, and I had tied with the winner from Japan, a competitor known as Sudo-chan – it was time for an air-off. We faced off to Sweet Child o’ Mine by Guns N’ Roses. Once the track began, I felt relieved because it was familiar to me, and above all I was so eager to perform one more time. As they declared I’d won, the venue exploded.

My memory is blurry. I think I blacked out from the excitement. Then the crowd started singing the song that well-known track and lifted me on to their shoulders. One of the greats – also known as Nordic Thunder – a previous titleholder and one of my closest friends, was holding me. I wept. I was Finland’s first air guitar world champion in 25 years. The previous Finnish champion, Markus “Black Raven” Vainionpää, was in attendance as well. He offered me the most heartfelt squeeze and said it was “about damn time”.

This worldwide group is like a close-knit group. The phrase we live by is “Make air, not war”. It may seem humorous, but it’s a genuine belief. People come from many countries, and all involved is positive and uplifting. Before you go on stage, all participants comes and hugs you. Then for a brief period you’re free to be free, playful, the top performer in the world.

Additionally, I am a percussionist and musician in a band with my brother called the band name, named after the football manager, as we’re influenced by British music genres. I’ve been working in bars for a short time, and I direct short films and song visuals. Winning hasn’t altered my routine drastically but I’ve been doing a many interviews, and I wish it results in more artistic projects. Oulu will be a cultural hub next year, so there are promising opportunities.

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