Interview with Vivan Vo

We created Graedance with the idea of creating a symbol of unity and shared experience—one that inspires confidence in embracing all the beautiful complexities of identity. At its heart, Graedance is about strengthening community through expressive design and celebrating the in-between.

The goal of our Grey Area interview series is to spotlight inspirational individuals who are not only supporters of the brand but also creators of liminal spaces in their own way. These interviews highlight journeys that challenge the binaries of culture, style, and identity to explore the expansive grey areas we occupy as individuals.

Today’s guest is Vivan Vo aka Small FRY, a DJ, artist manager, and radio broadcaster who has dedicated her work to uplifting the voices of Asian-Australian creatives. Known for her unique curations and her show Mooncake on Triple R 102.7FM, Vivan is a force in the music industry—one who champions representation while staying true to her own path.

1. What do you do for work, and what is your passion or goal in life?

"Under the moniker of Small FRY, I am an artist manager of two musicians, Rainbow Chan and Yeo, and I also manage myself as a DJ. As a DJ and radio broadcaster, I host a show called Mooncake on Triple R 102.7FM, which celebrates sounds from Asia and artists of the Asian diaspora. I also curate artist line-ups for festivals and events that platform PoC and Asian-Australians. I’m known for my wonky but well-rounded music selections and for championing Asian music."

2. What are some of your biggest achievements to date?

"In 2021, one year since its debut, Mooncake won the Community Broadcasting Association Award for Best Music Program, which recognizes excellence in music programming and is a highly competitive category. I’ve never won an award before, and it sits on the top shelf of my bookshelf."

3. What are you most proud of?

"2025 will be the 10th year of Small FRY. I’m proud of that. As a business and an independent person, working hard and hustling for all this time, and still enjoying it."

4. What ‘grey area’ did you believe you occupied, or still occupy now, as an individual growing up?

"As a teenager growing up with immigrant parents in predominantly white Australia, I was one of few Asians in my year and the only Asian in my friendship group. I was taught to assimilate and be the model minority. As a result, I rejected much of my culture and was quite shy, trying not to stand out or be too different.

Since then, I’ve been on a journey of exploring my identity. I learned to appreciate my culture, build confidence, allow myself to take up space, and embrace myself in this grey area.

Even today, working in the music industry, I’m still one of a few Asians in the room. Especially as a female Asian-Australian manager, that’s rare. But now, I’m proud of that."

5. Was there a turning point in your life that you felt like you could fully embrace these differences? If so, what was the event or catalyst?

"One of the things that supports me is the community I have around me. Over the years, I’ve met and worked with so many Asian-Australian musicians and creatives. I love connecting with them over our shared experiences as part of the Asian diaspora—of childhood, school days, dating and relationships, and working in creative industries. And that community keeps growing."

6. How does your individual ‘grey area’/difference influence the way that you work or the work that you create?

"I currently manage two Asian-Australian musicians, Rainbow Chan and Yeo, and I also manage myself as a DJ. My radio show Mooncake is dedicated to music from Asia and artists of the Asian diaspora, and that also influences my DJ sets. I’ve built a reputation as a curator who highlights culturally rich artists and diverse sounds, and I take great pride in my commitment to representation, inclusion, and diversity."

7. What lessons or advice could you give to those trying to embrace their difference/grey area?

"My good friend Rainbow Chan, once told me, 'Be firm like tofu.' This mindset has stayed with me and I’ve applied it to so many situations.
In embracing your grey area, don’t worry about what people think of you, how you’re being perceived, or their expectations of you. Be firm in who you are."

8. Lastly, who are you listening to?

"The track I've been rinsing is Audrey Nuna's "Mine". Audrey Nuna is the ultimate 'grey area'. She's Korean American diaspora, and is a hybrid artist of rap and pop. In “Mine”, she flips the 90s R&B classic, blends it with a club bass, and adds sweeping orchestral moments. The music video is futuristic and otherworldly, and is very visually Graedance."

Vivan wears the Firo Earrings, Gravity Ring, Gravity Drop Choker, Seren Ring & Desir Ring.