Max HeyraudWe sat down with Bekah Molony from Mo Cultivation ahead of tomorrow’s Smirnoff event at Opium Rooms. The intimate gathering will feature Irish producer and DJ, Welshy, alongside local selectors Mo’Cultivation and a very special surprise guest!
Through cultural gatherings, a broad-spanning collection of interactive events, and a diverse range of digital content, Mo Cultivation thrives with a dynamic roster of resident and guest DJs, artists, hosts, and creators. Since its inception, the community has connected with hundreds of artists and industry professionals, while engaging thousands of attendees with a shared passion for culture.
The multidisciplinary party has remained steadfast in its mission: “Curating events, creating opportunities for creative communities, and celebrating the very best of urban & underground culture in Ireland and beyond.” While the team is focused on championing Ireland’s urban culture, they remain open to various routes for spotlighting and elevating the scene. Urban culture in Ireland is loosely defined—something Mo Cultivation is actively challenging. As Molony puts it, “Many hear ‘urban’ and assume it’s not for them—I want to change that by showcasing the vast genres and art forms in the scene.”
We sat down with Mo Cultivation boss Bekah Molony to discuss her community-based urban collective and how she’s bridging the gaps between Ireland’s MOBO (Music of Black Origin), urban, and underground culture scenes.
Thanks for chatting with Four Four Mag! You’ve just come off a busy period leading up to St. Patrick’s Day—how are you feeling, and how have things been for you and your work?
Paddy’s Weekend and the lead up to it were absolutely insane, I am still recovering physically, but so proud of everything that went down. Before Christmas, I had a bit of a career identity crisis and decided to lock in like never before in 2025 – and so far, it’s been the most productive and successful 3-month period I’ve ever had – plus I am looking after myself and enjoying my personal life. It’s a hard balance to find but I’ve cracked the code this year.
Let’s take it back to the beginning—why did you start Mo Cultivation?
Mo Cultivation was and is an amalgamation of my need for a like-minded community, a meaningful creative outlet that serves more than just me and my circle, my determination to develop the Irish scene and a sincere passion for MOBO (music of black origin), urban and underground culture. It has evolved since 2022, and continues to adapt to the changing tides, but the number one goal will remain the same: to celebrate, connect and create with a diverse range of artists and to help bring Ireland to the global stage.
How would you describe Ireland’s emerging urban scene right now, and how have things evolved since you launched the project?
We have no shortage of DJs, artists, visual creators and makers in the Irish urban scene; more and more pop out all the time, and it is very high-quality stuff. But from where I’m standing, hip-hop and other associated genres in emerging music have been really put on the back burner in the past year or so. Everything comes in cycles, but right now, Ireland has an appetite for other types of music and sadly, we don’t have a big enough population to truly celebrate multiple genres at once. This isn’t a personal opinion; any booker in Ireland will tell you this.
Over the last 12 months, it feels like Mo Cultivation has expanded further than ever before. Was this a conscious decision to broaden your horizons and reach more people through editorial pieces, brand activations, and collaborations?
100%, I am always trying to level up. But to be honest, I mostly do this alone, so a lot of the projects that Mo Cultivation has been working on in the past year are all things I would have liked to have achieved sooner. If it looks like we have popped up out of nowhere and are suddenly getting into all these spaces, the truth is we’ve been plugging away slowly over the past while, and now I’m ready to supercharge. I am very proud of where it’s at, but it is just the beginning.
You recently started a radio show on RTÉ Pulse. Why was now the right time to launch it, and how has the experience been?
I have always done various forms of presenting, music curation and DJing, so it was only a matter of time. I was like a duck to water and I’m loving it. Part of me wishes I went for it sooner, but I have a massive amount of music knowledge and confidence now that I wouldn’t have had in my early 20s, so sure, look!
A large part of Mo Cultivation’s ethos has been to spotlight POC within Irish contemporary music and arts culture. How has that journey been for you?
I genuinely don’t think anyone is doing a better job in Ireland right now when it comes to spotlighting non-white creatives in Ireland. I’d like to say that, and for people to understand that I am an extremely humble person. It’s my number one mission in my career, and I think in a short amount of time, I have been able to do a lot. It hasn’t been easy because, like I said, we don’t have enough people in Ireland who are yet open to exploring other sides of culture and Ireland is behind in terms of authentic inclusivity. But I take every opportunity I can to leave the door open and create opportunities that don’t already exist.
As an electronic music magazine, we’d love to hear your thoughts—can you spotlight some POC artists within club culture who deserve more attention?
Yes absolutely! Onai, Moving Still, Alice Ugbah, Pablo Santos, Governess, Ricky Chong, Godwin, Emmy Shigeta, KSFM. If you want their tags, let me know! I also love JWY and Viki Dos Santos, although I haven’t had a chance to see either of them live yet.
In addition to Mo Cultivation, I also work in electronic music – I do music programming for brands and festivals, it is my other preference when DJing and I have my own agency D07 Artists which represents electronic sounds. Thankfully, the worlds of MOBO and electronic crossover majorly and I am lucky to call it my job.
In what ways do you believe Mo Cultivation has influenced Ireland’s urban culture since its establishment?
Mo Cultivation brings urban and underground culture to the forefront, making it accessible to everyone. Many hear “urban” and assume it’s not for them—I want to change that by showcasing the vast genres and art forms in the scene. Mo Cultivation brings urban and underground culture to the forefront, making it accessible to everyone. Many hear “urban” and assume it’s not for them—I want to change that by showcasing the vast genres and art forms in the scene.
Mo Cultivation creates experiences that span urban culture. People appreciate our fresh approach, and artists want to connect because of our real community. Many claim to support culture but cultivate exclusivity. That model exists, but Mo Cultivation is arms-wide-open—an energetic, inclusive space to celebrate culture. We cover multiple genres and art forms, from networking events to club nights blending alternative R&B, disco, afrobeats, and garage. At festivals, Mo Cultivation Live brings big fun, big throwbacks—songs made for singing and dancing. Our socials share real cultural celebrations, creative opportunities, and event guides that people love.
Over the past three years, we’ve paid thousands to cultural workers, artists, and creatives while launching the annual Making Moves initiative—offering mentorship, resources, networking, artist bookings, collaborations, and now radio play. I feel a deep responsibility to use my voice and platform meaningfully. Mo Cultivation is part of that ambition, plus some banging events and projects for everyone to enjoy. A win-win for me.
Photo Credits: Kate Lawlor
