Air guitar isn’t exactly new—in fact, the world championship competition has been an officially arranged event since 1996. But despite the growing interest, participation, and news coverage, it’s still widely misunderstood and downplayed as an art form. A new documentary is out to set the story straight, following multiple intersecting storylines within the air guitar community. Catching Air had its world premiere in Kansas City and will become available on streaming platforms on September 26.
For those in the know, the air guitar world championships are held every August in Finland. This year’s staged outdoor competition just finished in Oulu, Finland, and featured a number of Kansas City locals—some of whom, including Eric “Mean” Melin, Matt “Airistotle” Burns, and Nicole “Mom Jeans Jeanie” Sevcik, can also be spotted in the documentary. We spoke with Melin, a creative director, musician, and Air Guitar World Champion, about the upcoming documentary and his ambassadorship for air guitar.
How did you get into air guitar?
I got into air guitar when I saw the documentary Air Guitar Nation. It was always something I did when I listened to music and I thought, “Hell, I can do that!” The idea that someone would see our doc Catching Air and it might inspire them to start performing and competing in the world of organized air guitar is really exciting.
What are some common misconceptions about the air guitar community?
[Laughs] Where do I start? The first is that people play air guitar because they can’t play an instrument. I’d say more than half the people who play air guitar can play an instrument. One of the stories in the movie is that the song I won the Air Guitar World Championships with is an original composition, designed specifically for competition, written and performed by guitarist Doug Minner and myself (I’m a drummer).
The second misconception is that air guitar is an easy-to-do thing, and it doesn’t require skill or effort to get a good score. The creative, talented, fun people from all walks of life who do this on stage are adept at conceiving, storytelling, dancing, choreography, stage presence, graphic design, and digital editing software. They have an innate understanding of how music is put together, the way to interpret it for movement, and then surprise and light up a crowd in 60 seconds. Air guitar is a unique art form.
Why do you think air guitar has this ability to bring people together?
First, music crosses all borders, and you have to love music to do this. Second, when you spend time creating and rehearsing—and then performing—your minute with all these other people who put the same amount of effort into it as you do, a bond is created. It’s a competition, yes, but you find yourself rooting for everyone, and seeing the diversity of performers, styles, and approaches is truly inspiring. Plus, air guitarists go out of their way to help people out. The AGWC says, “Make air, not war,” and that’s a tangible feeling you get from the process. Trust me, you’ll have to see the movie to understand!
Catching Air is streaming on all platforms September 26.