Rush touring drummer Anika Nilles is the subject of a 14-page cover feature and new interview in the September, 2026 edition of Modern Drummer magazine. They've also posted an extensive, hour-long video interview to accompany the issue, which you can check out below or on YouTube (thanks Ronald B):

In this exclusive interview, filmed in July 2026, Modern Drummer's David Frangioni sits down with powerhouse drummer Anika Nilles a day after she stepped off the stage in Chicago. They dig into her musical journey that led her to one of the most coveted drum thrones in music history - RUSH. Along with her approach to preparing for Rush, they cover her creative process and gear choices. Anika Nilles has built a reputation as one of the most innovative and technically gifted drummers of her generation, known for her intricate playing and genre-blending style. This conversation offers a rare, personal look at the artist as she steps into one of the biggest roles of her career. ...

When asked about what the hardest Rush song for her to play is, Anika answered Xanadu:

... We played that at the second rehearsal when we already knew each other a little. But that song is so different from all the other songs I had on my list because it was on and off playing, and it was on and off time signatures. ... There are a lot of time signatures in there. As I listened to it, I didn't know how they played it live, and what was the feeling. I didn't know what was prepared, what had been discussed before, what was improvisational on stage, and especially in the intro of the song. I wasn't sure if it was all counted out and well planned, or if Neil came in with that wood block part by feeling. I didn't know if he was playing the same part every time. So I listened to a couple of live recordings, and it was kind of different, but also very similar, so it was hard to tell. ...