nikolai augustin, a 23-year-old composer and musician from germany, crafts a unique music style defined by his vision to make music together with other musicians, not alone in a studio. from integrating bird calls into custom synthesizers to working alongside the chemical brothers and david menke on film projects, nikolai blends classical training with experimental electronic elements, creating immersive soundscapes for stories.

nikolai began his musical journey with piano at five, drawing inspiration from street musicians and russian composers. while studying in france, he led the university's electronic music association, produced mixtapes, and performed in a rock band. his scoring journey began with documentaries, leading to becoming assistant of (genius mentor) David Menke and gaining first professional credits on films and like heureux gagnants and tigres et hyènes.

In 2022, nikolai spent a transformative exchange year at USC in los angeles, scoring student films showcased at the eileen norris cinema theatre. back in paris, he continues to work on commercials, short films, and feature films, mastering composition, sound design, and mixing.

as part of music start up bridge audio, he champions ethical ai for artists, speaking at events like art basel miami beach. his ultimate dream? performing a live film score in a movie theater, blending music and storytelling into a shared experience.