Melbourne’s Cooper Smith Finds His Home on the Stage.

What started off as playing around with his dad’s vinyl collection at five-years-old has turned into a dream come true. At age sixteen, Cooper decided to teach himself to mix tracks by buying a DJ app on his iPad. A year later in 2022, Cooper was playing his mixes through the basketball stadium during lunch time at school, and by the end of the year, his teacher Mr. Aaron Jack, wrote to the Dylan Alcott Foundation. Before they knew it, everything changed. Cooper was not only provided with new equipment, but received an invitation from Dylan to play his first ever festival - Ability Fest 2023.
Since then, he’s studied music production at TAFE, has been mentored by Eric Powell, has played at the Australian Open, presented at Parliament House for International Day of Person with a Disability 2024, and more.
Cooper has Dystonic Cerebral Palsy, and at the heart of his music is a passion for championing inclusion, accessibility and representation. While Cerebral Palsy affects his speech and motor skills, it has never defined his limits. Instead, Cooper continues to challenge expectations, driven by a determination to achieve whatever he sets his mind to.
Cooper had the opportunity ring in the new year at the iconic Beyond the Valley Festival in 2025, taking the Dance Dome stage and even had the chance to meet Australian legends RÜFÜS DU SOL. And if that wasn’t enough, he’s already kicked 2026 off by playing main stage at Ultra Festival, Ability Fest, and he’s played his first International Gig at Snow Machine Festival in Hakuba, Japan.
His sets are always full of energy, and he always looks for the fun in every space he’s in. Whether he’s sharing the stage with his family, meeting fans and/or other artists, he’s always up for a laugh and a chance to learn something new.
“I love watching people discover new songs, and have a really good time. I really hope everyone has a good dance”.
As a fan and creator of house music, Cooper has a natural instinct for lighting up a crowd. Between his mixes and original tracks, his music is uplifting and exciting, and somehow perfectly suits the atmosphere of any stage he steps on to. His newest release Flames (Edit) is just meant to get audiences moving, and adds in a newer and darker sound in comparison to previous tracks. He released an official remix of James Hype’s Waterfalls (featuring Sam Harper and Bobby Harvey) earlier this year, and released Gunshy in collaboration with Alverie in November 2025.
While his catalogue is consistently high-energy and motivating, Cooper remains grounded in what matters most to him: authenticity. He shares:
“I feel most myself when everyone in the room is having the best time. No one worrying about anything, just that moment. I always remember what I truly love playing and try not to get distracted by what’s popular, and to play from the heart.”
Cooper’s enthusiasm and passion are infectious, and it’s clear that the strides he’s already made so early in his career are only just the beginning.