Anika Nilles
Updated: 12/10/2025, 10:44:22 AM Wikipedia source
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 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 reunion tour.
Infobox
Born
(1983-05-29) 29 May 1983 (age 42)Aschaffenburg, West Germany
Genres
Progressive rock, jazz fusion, pop
Occupations
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Instrument
Drums
Labels
Sakurai Records
Website
anikanilles.com
Channel
anykmusic
Years active
2012–present
Subscribers
265 thousand
Views
31.1 million
Tables
· Awards
2015
2015
Year
2015
Contest
Drummie Awards
Award
Rising Star
2016
2016
Year
2016
Contest
Drummie Awards
Award
Rising Star
2016
2016
Year
2016
Contest
Modern Drummer Readers Poll
Award
Up And Coming Artist
2017
2017
Year
2017
Contest
DRUM!
Award
#2 Best Fusion Drummer
2017
2017
Year
2017
Contest
Drummie Awards
Award
#3 Best Educator
2018
2018
Year
2018
Contest
MusicRadar Awards
Award
#1 Best Clinician
2019
2019
Year
2019
Contest
MusicRadar Awards
Award
#3 Best Clinician
| Year | Contest | Award |
| 2015 | Drummie Awards | Rising Star |
| 2016 | Drummie Awards | Rising Star |
| 2016 | Modern Drummer Readers Poll | Up And Coming Artist |
| 2017 | DRUM! | Best Fusion Drummer |
| 2017 | Drummie Awards | Best Educator |
| 2018 | MusicRadar Awards | Best Clinician |
| 2019 | MusicRadar Awards | Best Clinician |
References
- drummerworld.comhttps://web.archive.org/web/20181102123927/http://drummerworld.com/drummers/Anika_Nilles.html
- Drum Magazinehttp://drummagazine.com/anika-nilles-joins-tama-as-signature-artist-releases-debut-solo-album/
- Modern Drummer Magazinehttps://www.moderndrummer.com/article/june-2017-anika-nilles/
- Consequencehttps://consequence.net/2025/10/rush-2026-north-american-tour/
- South African Drummerhttps://www.sadrummer.net/single-post/2018/01/05/ANIKA-NILLES-INTERVIEW
- drumshop.co.ukhttps://www.drumshop.co.uk/blogs/news/19492612-anika-nilles-drum-clinic-at-drumshop-uk
- Sweetwaterhttps://www.sweetwater.com/events/2018/10/anika-nilles/
- tama.comhttps://web.archive.org/web/20181117105335/http://www.tama.com/usa/news/show/anika_nilles_clinics/index.html
- drumsundpercussion.dehttps://web.archive.org/web/20210711164930/https://drumsundpercussion.de/artikel/farbenfrohe-musikalische-seele-neues-anika-nilles-album
- Nexus ICAhttps://web.archive.org/web/20210711164931/https://nexus-ica.co.uk/about-nexus-ica/faculty/anika-nilles/
- www.popakademie.dehttps://www.popakademie.de/en/studium/popmusikdesign-ba/dozierende/anika-nilles/u/94/
- "Instagram"https://www.instagram.com/p/CccnbyjjAL_/?hl=en
- Modern Drummer Magazinehttps://www.moderndrummer.com/article/march-2015-up-and-coming-anika-nilles/
- DRUM! Magazinehttps://drummagazine.com/anika-nilles-wins-best-new-artist-award/
- DRUM! Magazinehttps://drummagazine.com/drummies-2016-drum-set-categories/
- Modern Drummer Magazinehttps://www.moderndrummer.com/modern-drummers-readers-poll-archive/
- MusicRadarhttps://www.musicradar.com/news/the-9-best-drum-clinicians-in-the-world-right-now
- meinlcymbals.comhttps://meinlcymbals.com/index.php?id=4&tx_twmeinlfactory_artist%5Bartist%5D=872&tx_twmeinlfactory_artist%5Baction%5D=show&tx_twmeinlfactory_artist%5Bcontroller%5D=Artist&cHash=283459c878755c9d656a877f224d25b3
- daddario.comhttps://web.archive.org/web/20181117105336/http://daddario.com/EvArtistDetail.Page?ActiveID=3551&ArtistId=46317&sid=58379106-1b4f-41b4-bcd0-9cea2d8e1245
- meinlcymbals.comhttps://meinlcymbals.com/index.php?id=3&tx_fleshop_product%5Bproduct%5D=1162&tx_fleshop_product%5Baction%5D=show&tx_fleshop_product%5Bcontroller%5D=Product&cHash=36b8a29e8dd49fd9c9c565e7f240aae6
- iDrum Magazinehttp://www.idrummag.com/interviews/anika-nilles-viral-virtuoso/3/
- Drum!https://web.archive.org/web/20160118161155/http://www.drummagazine.com/features/post/drummies-2015-artist-awards/
- Drum!http://drummagazine.com/drummies-2016-drum-set-categories/
- Modern Drummer Magazinehttps://www.moderndrummer.com/modern-drummers-readers-poll-archive/