10 Best Female Drummers Of All Time
6. Anika Nilles
Another contemporary drumming great to have launched their career
on YouTube, German drummer Anika Nilles has quickly rose to international
acclaim and has subsequently released two studio albums (Pikalar and For A
Colorful Soul), toured the world, won numerous awards, and has even began
teaching her finely polished techniques to others.
Coming from a family of drummers and learning to play at the age of six when her father taught her how to play her first groove, it doesn’t take long while listening to one of Nilles’ tracks to see why she’s been hailed as one of the modern greats by various drumming outlets.
Everything about her playing is a masterclass in every technique in the book. Known for her ability to blend various time signatures together to create fascinating rhythms, if her level of skill doesn’t blow you away, then listening to her effortlessly nail quintuplets (five notes in one beat) at ridiculous speed will.
Citing Toto drummer Jeff Porcaro as her biggest influence, Nilles’ equally amazing technical and composition abilities easily qualifies her to be just as – if not better – than her own idle. And that’s an incredible accomplishment.