Air Guitar in Oulu

We caught up with Kent Sobey, the Director of AIR GUITAR IN OULU, on the set of his next film….

Q: What possessed you to make this film?
Sobey: I couldn’t believe that an air guitar competition actually existed. Andrew Buckles (Air Raid) was Mr. Air Guitar at the time so we figured, hey there’s a movie.

Q: Are you an air guitarist?
Sobey: Of course!  But I focus on the air drums.

Q: How did you find out about Oulu and have you been back since you made the film?
Sobey: A friend of mine was living in Ireland at the time and told me about the air guitar competition in Finland.  Unfortunately, I have not been back to Finland since making the film but I hear that it is still there…the competition that is.

Q: What do you think makes a truly great air guitarist?
Sobey: Hard work and dedication.  It also helps if you leave your inhibition at the door.

Q: Have you seen the film AIR GUITAR NATION? Did you like it?
Sobey: Yes, I liked it.  What I was trying to do in AIR GUITAR IN OULU is really explore the inner motivation of the air guitarist – what makes the air guitarist tick, as it were. It wasn’t meant to be a documentary but really a tribute to a heroic figure.

Q: What more can be said about air guitar?
Sobey: If I may quote one of the more famous air guitarists of our time, Mr. Zac Monroe (two time world air guitar champion), “air guitar celebrates the moment…and the moment is the most important thing in life.”

Q: Is there such a thing as a guitar hero air guitarist?
Sobey: If you’re referring to the popular video game, no.  Unfortunately, while Guitar Hero is a great training tool for air guitar, one must be without any ‘material device’ to be a hero air guitarist.

Q: Where is Andrew Buckles now?
Sobey: Andrew Buckles has moved on to other things. Like all great heroes, he continues to struggle to be great.  Air guitar remains his great personal passion, of course.