Emerging from Johannesburg’s underground electronic scene, BNinjas is building a distinctive sound rooted in deep house, dusty grooves and raw, MPC-driven rhythms. Blending soulful textures, subtle acid touches and a deep appreciation for the swing of hip-hop, his productions strike a balance between stripped-back functionality and understated musical depth.
His latest release, Crate001-1, arrives via Jeddah-based underground label Peachez in Crates on 20 October 2026. The four-track EP features two original productions, a late-night reinterpretation of ‘Piccolo is Purple’ by Icelandic beatmaker Intr0beatz, and BNinjas’ own fresh take on Marlon George’s ‘Lonyo’, bringing the project full circle to the label’s inaugural compilation, Crate 001.
Influenced by the likes of Max Graef and Glenn Astro, and drawing from the rich intersections of house, deep jack and hip-hop culture, BNinjas represents a new wave of South African producers shaping the sound of the global underground on their own terms. We caught up with him to discuss the new EP, his inspirations, the Johannesburg scene and the creative instincts behind his sound.
Q&A With BNinjas
1. Your new EP, Crate001-1, is out via Peachez in Crates. How did this project come together, and what was your vision for the release?
The release was something I had set down with Anmarz while I did a gig in Saudi he had told me he loved my music and wanted to start a label and release my kind of music
2. The EP opens with ‘Inverts’ and moves into the playful, hypnotic grooves of ‘Piccolo is Purple’. What can you tell us about the stories or ideas behind these two original productions?
Inverts is one of those tunes that just happen effortlessly nothing is forced all is organic it’s just finds its way on the electronic house ear Piccolo is Purple is a funky raw chopped up full of swing Groove dusty and full of textures and layers
3. Your sound has a distinctive dusty, groove-led quality, with raw drum programming, MPC swing and subtle acid touches. What is your production process like, and how important is hardware or working with samples to the way you make music?
I have mad love for Swing and dusty loops and drum samples and musical notes that I just create something out of Notting so I love samples all the time they set the tone for me love hardware but I’m not using any of them
4. You’ve cited Max Graef and Glenn Astro as influences, while your music also draws on Chicago house, deep jack and hip-hop culture. Which artists, records or musical scenes have had the biggest impact on your development as a producer?
Most definitely Scuffed house and a mix of Hip Hop and a 4/4 Groove beat works well for me all the time influences like Black Loops and IntrObeatz The legendary Jimpster mad love for what they make
5. You’re based in Johannesburg, a city with its own rich and diverse musical identity. How would you describe the current electronic music scene in South Africa, particularly the underground house community?
SA Underground space is huge but super underground it’s those hard to find spaces where you will get to hear and play the good stuff and to many underground bedroom producers making dope stuff
6. South Africa has a globally influential dance music culture, from house and deep house to amapiano and beyond. How have the sounds and musical traditions around you shaped your own approach?
Well at has kept me more in my zone nothing changed in most cases here in Sa they kinda feel like I’m not from here or one of there own cos of the international sound that I make
7. The EP features a remix of ‘Piccolo is Purple’ by Icelandic beatmaker Intr0beatz. How did that collaboration come about, and what did you think when you first heard his interpretation of the track?
Wow I was out of words cos like really IntrO is my fav producer I cannot do a set without he’s work on it and most people Always feel like my production works well with he’s work so when I was told he is jumping on the remix duties I went bananas and yea he did he’s magic
8. You close the release with a remix of Marlon George’s ‘Lonyo’, originally featured on the first Crate 001 compilation. What attracted you to that track, and how did you approach reworking it while retaining its original character?
Marlon is another dope G that makes music that I dig so much we close talk a lot via text I had to do justice on he’s work it was long time coming
9. Peachez in Crates is a Jeddah-based label connecting underground artists across borders, with roots in Chicago house, deep jack and hip-hop culture. What drew you to the label, and how important are independent platforms like this in creating connections between scenes that might otherwise remain separate?
Saudi is a game changer for me got lots of respect to the nation that side for me to travel that side and go share what I love and get to feel like a mini Black Coffee and find a club that side sold out anticipating my set closing off for two hours and here language barrier did not mean a thing now that priceless that’s what made me wanna do music underground music I can’t buy that it’s one for the books S/0 Baloo and Anmarz and the Peachez Team
10. Looking ahead, what’s next for BNinjas?
Next for BNinjas Keep at it making music for me is a need it’s like drinking music I can’t live without making beats
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