Anika Nilles: From Preschool Teacher โtoo Drumming โขwith Rush – A Journey โฃto Reunion Tour 2025
Anika โขNilles, a โฃGerman drummerโค and music educator, has recently โmade headlines as the new drummer for the legendary rock band โฃRush, joining them for their highly anticipated 2025 reunion tour – the band’s first as the โpassing โof Neilโ Peart in 2020โ and the first time adding a new member since 1974. Butโ who is โฃAnika Nilles, โฃand how โคdid she riseโ to this momentous opportunity?
Early โYears and a Passion for percussion
Anika โคNilles’ connection with drumming began in childhood.She has described the instrument as a source of focus and a meditative experience, โfostering a “physical and mindful connection.” โAt 16, sheโฃ expressed her desire to pursue โคdrumming professionally, but โขher parents encouraged her to first obtain a more conventional education. She subsequently studied social work and became a preschool teacher, a career she maintained for five years. Despite โthe stability of the job, her passion for drumming never waned.
Transitioning to a Full-Time Music Career
In her late twenties, โขNilles made the pivotal decision to โขdedicate herself fully to music. She enrolled at theโฃ Popakademie Baden-Wรผrttemberg in Mannheim,โฃ Germany. During her studies,she initially practiced privately,often self-consciously,striving to improve her skills. Her breakthrough arrived in 2013 with the onlineโฃ release of her original composition, “Wild Boy.” The video quickly gained traction, opening doors to live performances and musicโ teaching opportunities.
Rising to โคGlobal Recognition
Nilles released her โคdebut album, Pikalar,โ in 2017, โfollowed by For a Colorful Soul in 2020. She has cultivated a criticallyโ important online presence, with over 225,000 followers on her YouTube channel, where she showcases her performances and collaborations with artists like Joshua De La victoria and Kaz Rodriguez.
Her careerโค reached new heights in 2022 when she toured with Jeff Beck in โฃEurope, a collaborationโข she described as a significant milestone. She โalso graced the cover of Modern Drummer magazine in 2017. Beyond performing, nilles shares her expertise as an educator at Nexus ICA, Drumeo, and popakademie Baden-Wรผrttemberg, where she currently heads theโฃ drum department.
Joining Rush: Aโ New โEra
The โopportunity to join rush arose through aโ connection with Jeff Beck’s tourโ crew. Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson were impressed by Nilles during rehearsals and ultimatelyโค selected her for theโ reunion tour. โฃLee expressed โคexcitement about the prospect โof greater stage freedom, potentially incorporating a keyboard player, while Lifeson notedโ the enjoyment of sharingโค more time at the front of the stage with Nilles taking the lead on drums.
Nilles โคnow facesโข the unique challenge of honoring theโฃ legacy of Neil Peartโ while bringing herโ own distinct style to Rush’s complex and iconic music. Her inclusion marks a โขnew chapter for the band and a significant step forward in her own career.
How did Anika Nilles join Rush as their new drummer?
Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson discovered her through Jeff Beck’s tour crew. after rehearsals, they were impressed by her drumming and โคselected her for Rush’s upcoming reunionโ tour.