Producer and beatmaker B. Lewis is one of many local musicians influenced by Peanut Butter Wolf. Born and raised in San Jose, B. Lewis quickly came to appreciate Wolf’s legacy as a trailblazer once he started making music in 2009. “He definitely led the way, in the right way,” says Lewis.

Only 23 now, Lewis ironically didn’t discover labels like Stones Throw and Brainfeeder until he went away to Expression College in the East Bay. “I hooked up with Insightful, who’s a really good friend of mine, and a producer as well. My buddy Rufio was also going there. They basically taught me how to make beats,” he says.

After college, Lewis moved back to San Jose. Most recently, he finished the Black Egg EP, with singer Miles Bonny. The eye-opening video for “Bottom to Top,” its first single,” features a couple getting in on most convincingly—and a lot of trippy smoke effects. A second video, for “Drop It,” is in the works.

“I spent a lot of time in the studio with that one,” he says of the EP. “As far as composing. I did most of the music, and Miles Bonny played trumpet. He did the majority of the singing, and I did a little bit of the background singing on that one. It came together pretty quickly. There was some trial and error in there, figuring some stuff out. We had to re-work some stuff. But overall I’m really happy with it.”

What mightsurprise those who are only familiar with Lewis’ more experimental beats is the sleek and smooth sound of the songs’ soulful R&B. But in reality the sound is close to his heart, having grown up on his father’s soul records.

Playing at Pagoda (Fairmont Hotel) | 12:30am

http://blewis.bandcamp.com/album/a-lions-aperture