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Anika Nilles (pronounced aah-NEE-kaah NEE-less) (born 29 May 1983) is a German drummer, composer, and musical educator. She launched her career on YouTube during the early 2010s, and has released three full-length albums to date, all with backing band Nevell: Pikalar (2017), For a Colorful Soul (2020) and False Truth (2025). On 6 October 2025, Nilles was announced as the drummer for Rush's 2026 North American mini-tour.
After school, Nilles had a career in social education, which she left to pursue drumming full-time. She earned a degree in popular music from the Popakademie Baden-Württemberg in Mannheim.
In 2017, Nilles' debut album Pikalar was released, consisting of 10 instrumental tracks. In promotion of the album, Nilles was the cover artist and interviewee for the June 2017 edition of Modern Drummer Magazine. In this interview, Nilles stated that she coined the word "pikalar", which is intended "to stand for things that happen in life that you can't describe".
Nilles embarked on a six-date United States clinic tour in October 2018, and performed at venues such as the Chicago Music Exchange, Sweetwater Sound in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and Salt City Drums in Salt Lake City, Utah. Her second full-length album "For A Colorful Soul" (feat. her band Nevell) was released in 2020. It reached number 3 of the US-iTunes-Top40-Jazzcharts as well as number 3 in Germany. Nilles teaches at Nexus ICA (UK), at Drumeo (Canada) and at Popakademie Baden-Württemberg (GER). Since 2021, she is also head of the drums department at Popakademie Baden-Württemberg. Nilles joined Jeff Beck's live band for his US and European tour in 2022.
On 6 October 2025, Nilles was announced as the drummer for Rush's 2026 Fifty Something Tour.
Career
Nilles posted her first original compositions "Wild Boy" in 2013, followed by "Alter Ego" in 2014. These and other music videos usually contain a visual recording of her drumming alongside previously recorded music. In such videos, she has historically cooperated with producer and guitarist Joachim Schneiss. Afterward, Nilles began acquiring work and viral attention outside of her native Germany, such as with a tour of Europe, the United States, and China in 2015.
Influences
Toto member and career session drummer Jeff Porcaro is a primary influence for Nilles. Other influences include Carter Beauford, Jojo Mayer, Sheryl Crow, Joe Satriani, Dave Matthews Band, Joss Stone, Stanton Moore, and Prince.
Critical reception
Nilles was twice elected as the "#1 Rising Star" in DRUM! magazine. The first time in 2015 and the second time in the following year. She also won the "Modern Drummer Readers Poll" for "Up And Coming Artist" in 2016. Furthermore, she was voted as "#2 Best Fusion Drummer" in DRUM! magazine and as "#3 best educator" on Drummie awards in 2017. Later on, she was elected as #1 "best clinician" on MusicRadar in 2018 and as #3 in 2019.
Equipment
Nilles has endorsed Meinl Percussion, Tama Drums, and Evans Drumheads. Meinl released a custom 18" Artist Concept Model Hi-hat cymbals that was conceptualized by Nilles. She also uses Pro-Mark sticks, and formerly Mapex Drums.
Technique
Nilles tends to incorporate alternate note groupings, such as with quintuplets and sextuplets, over a backbeat.
Awards
2015 Drummie Awards Rising Star 2016 Drummie Awards Rising Star 2016 Modern Drummer Readers Poll Up And Coming Artist 2017 DRUM! #2 Best Fusion Drummer 2017 Drummie Awards #3 Best Educator 2018 MusicRadar Awards #1 Best Clinician 2019 MusicRadar Awards #3 Best Clinician
Personal
Nilles currently lives in Mannheim, Germany.
Discography
Further reading
External links
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