As part of The Strokes' rhythm section, Nikolai provides the exact but sensual bass lines that help anchor the youthful zeitgeist of Is This It. All the ladies say he gives good bass. It's a fact, Jack.

Often described as stoic and soft-spoken, Nikolai seems to inhabit the quietly cerebral and introspective end of the Strokes spectrum, playing the thoughtfully plodding dramatic foil to Julian's exuberant, often manic stage presence. He also seems to come off as painfully shy, but when he does open his mouth about a subject that happens to interest him, he has plenty to say, particularly where the band is concerned. For instance, when asked about the physical effects of fast-brought fame: "Today, we are, I hope, out of this mess after having been through exhausting moments. After the release of the album, we have toured too much, we fell in with all possible excesses. We wanted Rock 'n' Roll, well we had it. And going through these tough and exhausting moments together brought us closer. There were too many 'unsaid' things, we had to burst the bubble and to have a rest, that was vital." And then when asked about the possibility of new material: "We've done only 2 songs since the release of our first EP, in more than 1 year … We can't wait to go back to New York to polish them up, to get back to our rehearsal room, our references points. But I already know that it will be hard to make an album after Is This It because our requirements are far higher. Not only will the songs will have to be better, but also recorded differently. The Strokes must progress." [G]

• Met and became fast friends with Julian at about the age of 10 while attending a French school called Le Lycee.
• Has at least two elder brothers and a younger sister.
• Drinks Corona.