SINGAPORE: A man with severe physical disabilities has done what he believes is a world first: performed as headline DJ at a club using only his chin for control.

Troy Robertson, 27, also known as DJ Hot Wheelz, did the record-setting performance at the Beer & Loathing bar on Saturday night to a full crowd.

Robertson has level-four spastic cerebral palsy, meaning he is unable to use his arms or legs and needs an electric wheelchair to get around.

His ability to talk is also restricted but he lets the music talk for him now.

“I’ve always loved music but I never thought I would be able to get into the music industry because of how disabled I am,” he said.

Late last year, Robertson had a brainwave to use his Xbox controller – which he used to play video games with his chin – and connect it to DJ software.

DJ Hot Wheelz had his first outing at an Enabling Good Lives Disco, organised by Robertson and friend Isaac Watts to encourage people with disabilities to socialise.

With the discos a success, Robertson moved up to DJ the awards night for the Festival of Disability Sport in Tauranga in May, entertaining a crowd of 200.

But the set at Beer & Loathing was about performing to a wider audience and showing young people what was possible for people with disabilities, he explained.

Robertson believed he was the first person in the world to perform such a feat using only his chin for control, with his level of disability and use of the Xbox controller also being unique.

He performed the set with support from Star Rose, also known as DJ Stazza. Watts also helped him set up and pack down.

“It was so cool,” said Robertson, who admitted he liked being up on stage.

As well as a full crowd of about 100, Beer & Loathing had a queue of people waiting to get in, he said.

Robertson described his music as pop remix and house, drawing inspiration from DJs like the UK’s James Hype and Australia’s Fisher.

He liked to play pop that was popular with young people, becauseyoung people in particular were unaware what people with disabilities could do, he said.

Robertson said he would like to return to Beer & Loathing, as well as perform at other events.

Alongside DJing, he will play at the New Zealand National Boccia Championships in Auckland next month. Boccia is an accessible sport similar to petanque and bowls.

Robertson also works as the operations administrator for Taimahi Trust, which empowers people with disabilities through its commercial kitchen and grocery store.

He encourages people to follow “DJ Hot Wheelz” on Facebook to watch his progress and find out about upcoming gigs.