Anika Nilles

Anika Nilles (; 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 the backing band Nevell: Pikalar, For a Colorful Soul (2020) and False Truth (2025). On 6 October 2025, Nilles was announced as the touring drummer for Rush's 2026 reunion 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. the United States, and China in 2015. and Salt City Drums in Salt Lake City, Utah. her second full-length album "For A Colorful Soul" (featuring her band Nevell) was released in 2020. It reached number three on the US-iTunes-Top40-Jazzcharts as well as number three in Germany. Nilles teaches at Nexus ICA (UK), at Drumeo (Canada) and at Popakademie Baden-Württemberg (GER). Since 2021, she has also been head of the drums department at Popakademie Baden-Württemberg.

Nilles joined Jeff Beck's live band for his US and European tour in 2022. In October 2025, Nilles was announced as the drummer for Rush's 2026 Fifty Something Tour.

Influences Jeff Porcaro of Toto is a primary influence for Nilles. Tama Drums, Meinl released a custom 18" Artist Concept Model Deep Hats cymbals that was conceptualized by Nilles. She also uses Promark sticks, and formerly Mapex Drums.

Technique Nilles tends to incorporate alternate note groupings, such as with quintuplets and sextuplets, over a backbeat.

Awards Year Contest Award 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

Personal life Nilles currently lives in Mannheim, Germany.

Discography "Chary Life" (Sakurai Records, single, 2014) "Synergy" (Sakurai Records, single, 2015) Pikalar (Sakurai Records, full-length, 2017) For a Colorful Soul (Sakurai Records, full-length, 2020) "Florida" (Sakurai Records, single, 2021) Opuntia (Sakurai Records, EP, 29 April 2022) False Truth (Sakurai Records, full length, 2025)