{"id":48426,"date":"2025-10-06T16:10:14","date_gmt":"2025-10-06T16:10:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/musicianvoice.com\/index.php\/2025\/10\/06\/who-is-anika-nilles-meet-rushs-new-virtuosic-drummer\/"},"modified":"2025-10-06T16:10:14","modified_gmt":"2025-10-06T16:10:14","slug":"who-is-anika-nilles-meet-rushs-new-virtuosic-drummer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/musicianvoice.com\/index.php\/2025\/10\/06\/who-is-anika-nilles-meet-rushs-new-virtuosic-drummer\/","title":{"rendered":"Who is Anika Nilles? Meet Rush&#8217;s New Virtuosic Drummer"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-line-height-copy  lrv-a-font-body-l   \">\n\tWhen the initial wave of shock wore off this morning that Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rollingstone.com\/music\/music-news\/rush-tour-2026-geddy-lee-and-alex-lifeson-new-drummer-1235441179\/\">touring as Rush<\/a> next year, most fans turned their attention to who will be taking on the absurdly difficult task of replacing the late Neil Peart behind the kit. The answer: German virtuoso Anika Nilles. \u201cWe could not be more excited to introduce her to our loyal and dedicated <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rollingstone.com\/t\/rush\/\" id=\"auto-tag_rush\" data-tag=\"rush\">Rush<\/a> fanbase,\u201d Lee said in a statement, \u201cwhom, we know, will give her every chance to live up to that near impossible role.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Geddy and Alex Send a Message to Rush Fans\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/koiX_Wspatw?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-line-height-copy  lrv-a-font-body-l   \">\n\tIn a video accompanying the tour announcement, Lee explained how he came into contact with Nilles. \u201cHow do we replace someone who is irreplaceable?\u201d he asked. \u201cI had heard from Scully, my bass tech, who had been on tour with Jeff Beck. He had been working with this drummer named Anika Nilles. He mentioned how impressive she was, how talented and musical she was, and powerful. And I think [Alex] and I playing with her started to put a charge on us. We heard our songs coming back to life. It was only once we had those successful rehearsal sessions with her that I felt, \u2018Yes, we can do this. And we can do justice to this. And this is going to be fun.&#8217;\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Anika Nilles - &quot;Kryptonite&quot; I LOOP JAM\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/6myI715N5uM?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-line-height-copy  lrv-a-font-body-l   \">\n\tNilles is a familiar name to true drum aficionados, and she has 225,000 followers on <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UC0P-ec6f8-oeueSf84RQZZg\">her YouTube channel<\/a>, where she showcases her seriously impressive chops and jams with figures like guitarist Joshua De La Victoria and drummer Kaz Rodriquez. But she\u2019s largely unknown to most rock fans, even if they saw her play with Jeff Beck in 2022.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Anika Nilles &amp; Josh De La Victoria I LOOP JAM\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/3BdFf6Y8olU?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-line-height-copy  lrv-a-font-body-l   \">\n\tNilles has been drumming since early childhood, and she took to the instrument with great ease. \u201cDrums are such a physical instrument,\u201d <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/15questions.net\/interview\/anika-nilles-about-drums-and-percussion\/page-1\/\">she told <em>15 Questions<\/em>.<\/a> \u201cIt\u2019s all about coordinating your limbs and having a clear idea of the rhythms and sounds you want to create. For me, drumming often feels like yoga \u2014 it\u2019s just me and the drums, and everything else fades away for a while. That\u2019s really liberating.\u201d<\/p>\n<section class=\"brands-most-popular \/\/ editors-pick-module lrv-u-margin-tb-2 lrv-u-border-a-2 u-box-shadow-5-5 lrv-u-padding-lr-1 a-span1 u-padding-b-1@tablet u-overflow-hidden\">\n<h2 id=\"section-heading\" class=\"c-heading larva  lrv-u-text-align-center u-border-color-black a-font-theme-primary-xxs lrv-u-color-black lrv-u-text-transform-uppercase u-letter-spacing-0063 lrv-u-padding-t-050 u-padding-b-0375@tablet lrv-u-padding-b-050@mobile-max lrv-u-border-b-2\">\n<p>\t\tEditor\u2019s picks<\/p>\n<\/h2>\n<\/section>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Anika Nilles  -  THE WALK [official Video]\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/qdvL2T434ao?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-line-height-copy  lrv-a-font-body-l   \">\n\tAt age 16, she told her parents that she wanted to play drums for a living. They said, \u2018No, no, no!,\u201d<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/anika-nilles-its-never-too-late\/?srsltid=AfmBOopvfU0aNOb6c5dS83mfz2ibx4fYn-nsTy16XQFYgDqCR_-UsWJT\"> she recalled<\/a> to <em>The Beat <\/em>in 2023.<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/anika-nilles-its-never-too-late\/?srsltid=AfmBOopvfU0aNOb6c5dS83mfz2ibx4fYn-nsTy16XQFYgDqCR_-UsWJT\"> <\/a>\u201c\u2018You need to do something serious first.\u2019 So I studied social work for five years and became a preschool teacher. It was fun, it gave me the chance to be creative, and I got a really good job offer after my final exam. But I had to think carefully about my situation.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-line-height-copy  lrv-a-font-body-l   \">\n\tShe didn\u2019t quit to pursue music full-time until she was in her late twenties. \u201cI always knew that I wasn\u2019t that happy at that job,\u201d <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.moderndrummer.com\/article\/june-2017-anika-nilles\/\">she told <em>Modern Drummer<\/em><\/a> in 2017. \u201cBut when you get money and you are safe, it\u2019s not that easy to quit.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Anika Nilles - FREE LESSON ON QUINTUPLETS\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/PGYFuLywmiM?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-line-height-copy  lrv-a-font-body-l   \">\n\tAfter leaving her preschool job, Nilles enrolled in the popular music program at Popakademie Baden-W\u00fcrttemberg in Mannheim, Germany. \u201cWhen I practiced at the university, I would close the doors and cover the windows so no one could see who was playing,\u201d she told Drumeo. \u201cI hated the idea that people could hear me failing. But at some point, I realized that I was making real progress, both mentally and in my drumming.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Anika Nilles - Wild Boy\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JSmmdxh4KWc?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-line-height-copy  lrv-a-font-body-l   \">\n\tNilles posted the original composition \u201cWild Boy\u201d online in 2013, and videos of her playing began spreading across the Internet, leading to world tours and teaching gigs. Her debut LP, <em>Pikalar<\/em>, landed in 2017. And in 2022, she played with guitar god Jeff Beck on his final tour.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Anika Nilles - Jeff Beck World Tour 2022\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/NJjiE9Q2u_c?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-line-height-copy  lrv-a-font-body-l   \">\n\tRush haven\u2019t brought a new member into the fold since Peart was hired back in 1974. And even when they added keyboards into their sound, they refused to bring anyone new onto the stage. Lee instead found ways to sing, play bass, and handle the keyboard parts all at once. Those days are ending, though.<\/p>\n<section class=\"brands-most-popular \/\/ recirculation-modules lrv-u-margin-tb-2 lrv-u-border-a-2 u-box-shadow-5-5 lrv-u-padding-lr-1 a-span1 u-padding-b-1@tablet u-overflow-hidden\">\n<h2 id=\"section-heading\" class=\"c-heading larva  lrv-u-text-align-center u-border-color-black a-font-theme-primary-xxs lrv-u-color-black lrv-u-text-transform-uppercase u-letter-spacing-0063 lrv-u-padding-t-050 u-padding-b-0375@tablet lrv-u-padding-b-050@mobile-max lrv-u-border-b-2\">\n<p>\t\tRelated Content<\/p>\n<\/h2>\n<\/section>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Jeff Beck Live 2022 \ud83e\udc46 Freeway Jam \ud83e\udc44 Sept 25 \u2b18 The Woodlands, TX\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/jOubDqnu5WY?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-line-height-copy  lrv-a-font-body-l   \">\n\t\u201cThere\u2019s one other decision that is coming,\u201d Lee says in the announcement video. \u201cI love the idea of being able to wander over to [Lifeson] and wander over to the drummer and just be a bass player. I think we will find ourselves adding to the band, maybe a keyboard player. What do you think about that idea?\u201d<\/p>\n<section class=\"brands-most-popular \/\/ recirculation-modules trending-in-article lrv-u-margin-tb-2 lrv-u-border-a-2 u-box-shadow-5-5 lrv-u-padding-lr-1 a-span1 u-padding-b-1@tablet u-overflow-hidden\">\n<h2 id=\"section-heading\" class=\"c-heading larva  lrv-u-text-align-center u-border-color-black a-font-theme-primary-xxs lrv-u-color-black lrv-u-text-transform-uppercase u-letter-spacing-0063 lrv-u-padding-t-050 u-padding-b-0375@tablet lrv-u-padding-b-050@mobile-max lrv-u-border-b-2\">\n<p>\t\tTrending Stories<\/p>\n<\/h2>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-line-height-copy  lrv-a-font-body-l   \">\n\t\u201cI think it\u2019s great,\u201d Lifeson says. \u201cI think having a little time together at the front of the stage will be a lot of fun.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-line-height-copy  lrv-a-font-body-l   \">\n\tIn back of the stage, meanwhile, Nilles will be honoring the work of Neil Peart and helping one of the greatest prog bands in history have a very unexpected victory lap. Her life will never be the same. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rollingstone.com\/music\/music-features\/anika-nilles-rush-new-drummer-1235441291\/\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When the initial wave of shock wore off this morning that Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson are touring as Rush next year, most fans&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":48427,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[36],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-48426","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pop","article","has-excerpt","has-avatar","has-author","has-date","has-comment-count","has-category-meta","has-read-more","thumbnail-"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/musicianvoice.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48426","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/musicianvoice.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/musicianvoice.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/musicianvoice.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/musicianvoice.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=48426"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/musicianvoice.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48426\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/musicianvoice.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/48427"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/musicianvoice.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=48426"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/musicianvoice.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=48426"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/musicianvoice.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=48426"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}