Written by Marco Torcasio
Imagine sipping a signature cocktail while the notes of a carefully crafted musical selection accentuate every nuance of the tasting experience. This is the new frontier of fine drinking, a territory waiting to be explored, where musicality and mixology blend to create unique sensory delights. Indeed, when integrated with skill and vision into the world of cocktails, music can become a powerful tool for differentiation and guest engagement. Giving shape to this vision is Benedetta Nocera, better known as Nora Bee, a professional DJ, sound designer and creative director. She has seamlessly combined the language of music with the art of mixology, in an innovative project created in synergy with the bar team at Ceresio7 in Milan, led by Abi El Attaoui.
Nora Bee, from DJ to Music Entrepreneur
Nora Bee’s eclectic background is an example of how cross-disciplinary skills can generate value in high-end hospitality. After graduating in economics and business in Genoa, she moved to Milan in 2000, embarking on a career in business consulting. She then went on to complete a master’s degree in fashion management at Bocconi University before gaining experience in the fashion and communications industries. For over seven years, she worked at an international agency as a project manager and account director, developing solid managerial, branding and storytelling expertise. “Music has always been a part of me,” says Nora. “I studied piano and theatre as a child, and at a certain point, I felt the need to express that creative side of me. So I dropped everything to study radio presenting and DJing. It was a choice driven by passion.” After just six months of training, she made her debut at the San Siro Stadium during an AC Milan match. “It was a proper baptism of fire, with cameras pointed at me and thousands of people. But from then on, everything started to flow naturally,” she explains.
Tailor-Made Musical Experiences
Today, Nora builds her DJ sets with a strategic and sensory approach. As a sound designer, she has collaborated with brands such as Rolex, Hublot and Pisa Orologerie, designing melodious soundscapes conceived to accompany the customer experience with a curated and personalised selection of music. “Everything that’s experience must be translated into music. Sound has an evocative power that can guide customers’ behaviour and emotions,” she says. Her first track as a producer, ‘I Know’, is a piano house anthem available on all major digital platforms. “It’s a tribute to the 1990s, a musical era that profoundly influenced me,” she explains. And if she had to describe her sets as a drink? “It would definitely be a Mezcal Paloma: elegant, bold, fresh and lively. It’s a rhythmic cocktail with lots of nuances – like my DJ sets, which are always a crescendo.”
Ceresio7 and Nora Bee Join Forces for Music Behind the Bar
This same philosophy comes to life at Ceresio7 with Music Behind the Bar, a unique format that combines music and mixology. The bar’s drink list has a distinct identity: stylish, creative, but always accessible. The aim is to offer balanced and harmonious flavours with clean but impactful presentations. At Ceresio7, Nora plays directly behind the bar, engaging with bartenders and customers to create a natural and immersive interaction. “My role is to enhance the experience. Music becomes an integral part of the drinking ritual, in a vibrant interplay between sounds and flavours.” The collaboration with Abi El Attaoui originated spontaneously, as Nora tells us: “Abi saw me playing and we immediately clicked. We started working together, building something that goes beyond a simple musical performance.” The Music Behind the Bar format has been enriched over time by hosting international mixologists from cities such as Madrid and Mexico City.
A Bridge Between Sound and Flavor
“Cultural contamination is central to our work. Each DJ set is designed to accompany and elevate the drinks menu, establishing a subtle but powerful dialogue between the notes and flavours,” she explains. The next step will be to launch a regular event featuring high-quality DJ sets to complement and heighten the cocktail menu. “For this season, we’ve decided to focus even more on the energy and identity of the rooftop.” The 2025 summer programme will therefore be a mix of regular events and special evenings, including DJ sets and guest shifts in collaboration with international bartenders. “Each event will have a distinctive and captivating personality, not only for those who come for a drink, but above all for those looking for an all-round experience,” says Abi El Attaoui, backed up by Nora, who concludes: “We want to take the enjoyment of listening to the next level, offering a coherent, refined and immersive experience.”
The article first appeared on Coqtail – for fine drinkers. Order your copy here
Photo by Julie Couder x Coqtail – all rights reserved
