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Nikolai Fraiture

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Nikolai Fraiture
Fraiture plays an electric bass on stage, wearing sunglasses and a denim vest with a patch saying "Have a nice day".
Fraiture performing in 2011
Background information
Birth nameNikolai Philippe Fraiture
Also known asNickel Eye
Born(1978-11-13)November 13, 1978(age 45)
New York, New York,U.S.
Genres
OccupationsMusician
Instruments
  • Bass guitar
Years active1998–present
Member of
Websitethestrokes.com

Nikolai Philippe Fraiture[1](born November 13, 1978)[2]is an American musician best known as the bassist of therockbandThe Strokes.Since co-founding the band in 1998, he has released six studio albums with them. Among other creative projects, Fraiture released a solo record under the nameNickel Eyein 2009 and has been the frontman of the band Summer Moon since 2016.

Early life

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Fraiture was born inNew York Cityto a French-Russian mother and French father.[3]He was raised with his older brother Pierre and younger sister Elizabeth in theYorkvilleneighborhood of theUpper East Side.[4][5]Fraiture met future bandmateJulian Casablancasat the age of six while attending the Friends School[specify][6][7]andLycée Français de New York,from which he graduated in 1997.[8]Through Casablancas, Fraiture met futureStrokesmembersNick ValensiandFabrizio Morettiwhile they were teenagers.[7]Fraiture later attendedHunter College[9]with Valensi.[10]

Fraiture received his first bass at 16 when his grandfather gave it to him as a graduation present, but Fraiture gave it away to Casablancas and did not resume playing until two years later.[11]

Career

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The Strokes

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Main article:The Strokes

Fraiture took up bass when he was around 18 and started playing in a band with childhood friend Julian Casablancas, guitarist Nick Valensi, and drummerFabrizio Moretti.[12][13]The Strokes were formed in 1998 when guitaristAlbert Hammond Jr.joined the group. After a year of rehearsing and playing at small venues, and several rejections from record companies, the group caught the interest ofRyan Gentles,then a booker at New York'sMercury Lounge.[14]Gentles sent their three-track demo toGeoff TravisofRough Trade Recordsand their first EPThe Modern Agewas released on the label, followed by a tour in England to promote the EP, with Gentles joining them as their manager.[15]After a bidding war, the band signed withRCAin March 2001.[14]Their first album,Is This It,was released in fall 2001. Following the completion of their five-album contract deal with RCA Records in 2013,[16]the band has continued to release new music through Casablancas'Cult Records.[17]

Nickel Eye

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Fraiture started his side project,Nickel Eye,during the hiatus afterFirst Impressions of Earth.He enlisted the help of South, a UK band introduced to him by a friend, as his backing band. Nickel Eye recorded some demos at South Studios in Hackney, London. With some guest appearances byNick Zinnerof the New York City-based bandYeah Yeah YeahsandRegina Spektor,[18]The Time of the Assassinswas completed a few months later in New York. The album is musically inspired by some of Fraiture's favorite artists, such asNeil Young,Frank Black,Leonard Cohen,andThe Kinks.The Time of the Assassinswas released on January 27, 2009 onRykodisc.[9]Nickel Eye’s first performance was on October 15, 2008 at London’s Borderline venue.[citation needed]

As Nickel Eye, Fraiture released 2014 demo "Same Difference" digitally in 2020.[19][20]

Summer Moon

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In 2016, Fraiture started a new band, Summer Moon withJane’s Addiction’sStephen Perkins(drums),Uh Huh Her’sCamila Grey(keyboardist and vocalist), andThe Airborne Toxic Event's Noah Harmon (guitar), with Fraiture providing vocals and bass for the group.[21]The group's debut albumWith You Tonightwas released in 2017.[22]As of 2020, the band is working on an EP.[20]

Other collaborations

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In 2007, Fraiture composed the music and starred in the movieA Kind of Dreamwith wife Illy Fraiture. The movie was a 30-minute black and white silent film written and directed by Danny Velez.[23]

On May 19, 2012, for the 37th season finale ofSaturday Night Live,Fraiture played bass alongsideArcade Fireand guest/musical hostMick Jagger.[24]

Fraiture is one-half of theperformance artproject Arts Elektra with his brother Pierre Fraiture, a New York-basedmixed mediumartist.[25]The duo combines live performance of original rock music compositions with live painting.[26][27]Beginning in 2019, Arts Elektra launched a twelve-act, site-specific piece entitledC'est Le Moment Ou Jamais (It's Now Or Never)at different locations globally. Their first act was performed in April 2019 at theWorld Trade Centerin New York City and the second act was presented that December duringArt Baselweek at the Miami River Art Fair.[26]The works created are auctioned off to benefit different charities.[28]

Personal life

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Fraiture married artist Ilona "Illy" Jankovich in 2004.[29][30]They have two children, Elysia and Phoenix.[31][32]

The family lives in New York City[20]and have lived in theWest Villageneighborhood for a number of years.[33]

Fraiture and his wife practiceNichiren Buddhismin theSoka GakkaiBuddhist tradition.[34]

Discography

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Solo discography (as Nickel Eye)
Summer Moon discography
  • With You Tonight(2017)
  • Casino Days (2023)
  • Dancing on a Moonbeam(2024)
The Strokes discography
Main article:The Strokes discography

References

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  1. ^twitpic.com/640bj6
  2. ^"Nikolai Fraiture".IMDb.
  3. ^Male, Andrew (August 2003)."Action. Time. Vision".Mojo.
  4. ^Strauss, Neil (November 13, 2003)."The Strokes: Elegantly Wasted".Rolling Stone.RetrievedApril 14,2020.
  5. ^Capobianco, Grace A. (April 5, 2019)."The Strokes Nikolai Fraiture and his brother perform at 7 WTC, to benefit autism".Downtown Magazine.RetrievedNovember 13,2020.[Our childhood friend] worked at a video store with us, our local video store on 84th and York (Yorkville).
  6. ^"The Strokes: Back with a great new album".The Independent.November 26, 2005.Archivedfrom the original on June 21, 2022.RetrievedNovember 1,2017.
  7. ^abGoodman, Lizzie (2017). "These Guys All Go So Far Back".Meet Me in the Bathroom: Rebirth and Rock and Roll in New York City 2001–2011.New York:HarperCollins/Dey St. pp. 109–118.ISBN978-0-06-223309-7.
  8. ^"AALFNY: Find a Classmate".www.lfnyalumni.org.RetrievedNovember 10,2020.
  9. ^abGraff, Gary (December 12, 2008)."The Strokes' Fraiture Turns Toward Nickel Eye".Billboard.RetrievedNovember 1,2017.
  10. ^Rapp, Allison."On the Record: Before They Were Big, They Were CUNY – The Brooklyn College Vanguard".RetrievedNovember 10,2020.
  11. ^"Nikolai Fraiture: Different Strokes".Bass Guitar Magazine.August 23, 2017.RetrievedNovember 1,2017.
  12. ^Kessler, Ted (December 16, 2001)."Ted Kessler meets The Strokes".The Observer.ISSN0029-7712.RetrievedNovember 1,2017.
  13. ^"We Talked to The Strokes' Nikolai Fraiture About His New Band Summer Moon".Noisey.August 11, 2015.RetrievedNovember 1,2017.
  14. ^ab"The Making of the Strokes".Rolling Stone.RetrievedNovember 1,2017.
  15. ^"This Is It: Ten Years of the Strokes".Pitchfork.March 7, 2011.RetrievedNovember 1,2017.
  16. ^Roffman, Michael."The Strokes Wipe the Slate Clean on Comedown Machine".Time.ISSN0040-781X.
  17. ^"The Strokes Are Back: Hear Their New EP 'Future Present Past'".Billboard.
  18. ^"Stream: Strokes Bassist's Solo Project, Nickel Eye".Spin.November 26, 2008.RetrievedNovember 1,2017.
  19. ^"Nickel Eye's" Same Difference "Review".Cam Brio Music.RetrievedNovember 5,2020.
  20. ^abcCarty, Pat."Interview: The Strokes Are Back Long Live The Strokes".Hotpress.RetrievedNovember 5,2020.
  21. ^"Hear Strokes' Bassist Sing With New Band Summer Moon".Rolling Stone.RetrievedNovember 1,2017.
  22. ^Wasserman, Milo (April 3, 2017)."With You Tonight: Tracking Down Summer Moon's Nikolai Fraiture".Clash Magazine.RetrievedNovember 1,2017.
  23. ^"A kind of dream".www.facebook.com.RetrievedApril 14,2020.
  24. ^Battan, Carrie (May 20, 2012)."Watch Arcade Fire and Foo Fighters Perform With Mick Jagger on" Saturday Night Live "Last Night".Pitchfork.RetrievedApril 14,2020.
  25. ^"Pierre Fraiture".Saatchi Art.RetrievedApril 14,2020.
  26. ^ab"Arts Elektra presents Les Animaux (Animals)"(PDF).November 2019.
  27. ^"Arts Elektra | Coming Soon".Ellen Houlihan.RetrievedApril 14,2020.
  28. ^"For Sale: Réveillez-Vous | Webstore".www.webstore.com.RetrievedApril 14,2020.
  29. ^"Group Therapy".NYMag.com.January 6, 2006.RetrievedNovember 1,2017.
  30. ^"Robots, Karaoke And Teppanyaki: Behind-The-Scenes On Alexa Chung's Trip To Japan".British Vogue.April 10, 2018.RetrievedApril 14,2020.
  31. ^"Twins on the way for Strokes guitarist and Brit star".PEOPLE.com.RetrievedApril 14,2020.
  32. ^"Illy Fraiture on Instagram:" Marceline bat and a Recycling Monster! Phoenix insisted in making his own costume this year!!!! "".Instagram.Archived fromthe originalon December 24, 2021.RetrievedApril 14,2020.
  33. ^David, Mark (July 16, 2013)."Julian Casablancas (of The Strokes) Sells Downtown Digs".Variety.RetrievedNovember 8,2020.Property records also reveal that in February 2009 bass player Nikolai Fraiture [lived] in a post-war West Village building... in an apartment he and his wife, Ilona, bought in March 2005
  34. ^"A Renaissance For Our Family".worldtribune.org.May 2, 2021.RetrievedMay 6,2021.
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