https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17Dnf87ae2/ (https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17Dnf87ae2/)
Anyone heard of her?
She's done quite some work on Drumeo, years ago already.
Funny thing is, her setup and mainly cymbal choices are far away from what Neil used in Rush, however, he might have wanted to use them.. very dry sounding setup.
She has chops, she can hold her own and sure isn't as groove-less as ol'Clunky.
She does make it swing a bit there, I only remember Neil doing that on Test For Echo.
Can't say I have although checking her out it's good to see she's jazz fusion influenced..
Quote from: Fishy on October 06, 2025, 07:19:05 PMCan't say I have although checking her out it's good to see she's jazz fusion influenced..
She toured with Jeff Beck, you don't just get a gig like that.
I have been a subscriber to the nr.1 Dutch drumming magazine Slagwerkkrant since the late 80's. They now have an interview premiere with Annika Niles
https://www.slagwerkkrant.nl/muzieknieuws/artikel/2-30615/anika-nilles-is-going-on-tour-with-rush--the-very-first-interview (https://www.slagwerkkrant.nl/muzieknieuws/artikel/2-30615/anika-nilles-is-going-on-tour-with-rush--the-very-first-interview)
A video from Anika's channel came up in my YouTube suggestions. She is as you may know a recording artist in her own right. Downloaded this just now:
https://mp3caprice.com/release/false-truth-395837
Right up my straße. Check this out from about 45:30 in:
Would think she's only doing the Rush gig for the money, like the other two. So I hope she gets a decent cut.
When does the kit revolve though?
Can she chuck a stick in the air and catch it tho?
Will she be sprinting off stage as soon as she has played the last fill?
Will she be wearing a specially made drumhat?
Will she smile and look as if she's enjoying being there..
Quote from: Fishy on March 13, 2026, 09:43:10 AMWill she smile and look as if she's enjoying being there..
yes yes, all the way to the bank she will
Ray will probably have her on minimum wage 😂
Quote from: dom on March 13, 2026, 01:56:42 PMRay will probably have her on minimum wage 😂
He is no longer involved as I understand it. They retired, all of them sold off the music rights and in doing so retired the touring business and everything that goes along with it.
Q Prime is managing them now.
I expect a couple of new tunes with Terry Brown producing.
Quote from: Nick on March 13, 2026, 06:43:11 PMI expect a couple of new tunes with Terry Brown producing.
Yes a remix of In the Mood
OK, so we've seen a glimpse of her playing, and it's not even a 'real' Neil song. The tom fills are pure Neil, that's for sure.
She's a bit heavier, or sharper on the hi-hat but she grooves that is for sure.
On the kit itself:
She is a Tama (drums) / Latin Percussion / Meinl (cymbals) / Evans (drumheads) / Pro Mark (sticks) endorser.
I like it, a lot. It is sort of old school, a 'kit in the round' going from high on the left to low on the right. It is a Tama Starclassic in what looks like a swirl-like finish, but not an off the shelf colour. All the way on the left, there are 3 cowbells (a passage to Bangkok anyone?) Odd place, and there is some sort of brass snare underneath that, very low set that actually looks like a modified LP timbale (with snare strings?)
Drumkit left to right: 3 concert toms, I am guessing 8/10/12, although it could be 6/8/10 inch. Concert toms were hot in the 70s and early 80s (Phil Collins was a big fan), basically a tom, but no bottom rim. Neil had them as well, the feisty, sharp sounding fills always started there.
Next to that there's a Latin Percussion (LP) timbale. She uses timbales and snares a lot in her regular set up as well.
Then 2 regular rack toms, might be 12/13 with the first one having a custom zebra striped head, 2 floor toms (16/18?) again one with a custom head and that contraption all the way in the back is a gong drum (with the head over the rim).
I am thinking a 20" bassdrum (her regular size) but maybe for the heavier setup for Rush she chose a 22".
As far as I can hear (on a heavily compressed mixed for TV from a stageset sound) it sounds very well balanced, each sound complementing the other.
Cymbals? Meinl, anyone's guess which ones but there are some effect cymbals there for sure. The hi hat sound cuts through quite well, and this is a huge change from Neils sound. Neil played his signature Sabian Paragon cymbals which are a lot darker and are very heavy and big. And that makes sense for the big stage, but they require heavy lifting, you really need to put some arm in there to make them speak. I can imagine Annika, being a very different drummer, much lighter in her touch, she prefers cymbals that open up fast. And right she is.
I count at least 4 crashes, 1 ride, 2 hi hats, a smaller effect china, a large effect china and a regular china.
Considering what she usually plays - a much smaller kit - this must feel huge, and it'll help her feel in place on those big stages across the world.
(https://i.ibb.co/mZCTDRM/Screenshot-2026-03-30-at-19-45-12-29-Rush-performs-Finding-My-Way-live-2026-Juno-Awards-You-Tube.png)
Love that expert view thenop - thanks!
Yes, that's really interesting. I wouldn't have picked up on any of that, Nop.
No hat though.
Quote from: The Picnic Wasp on March 30, 2026, 07:52:29 PMYes, that's really interesting. I wouldn't have picked up on any of that, Nop.
No hat though.
No dancing shoes either probably