Strings 2 the Grove Brings New Grooves to Midtown Second Saturday
May 1st, 2025
Strings 2 the Groove (@strings2thegroove) is a unique Midtown-based band that combines the skills of DJ Ron Florente (@skratchmiyagi) and classical violinist Kenjamin (@kenjaplays). They create amazing sounds by mixing hip hop, jazz, and lounge music with live turntablism and violin improvisation.
For the second year in a row, Strings 2 the Groove will be performing live at the Midtown Second Saturday’s annual kickoff event and fundraiser, Midtown Love. As they prepare to take the stage, we caught up with Ron to learn more about the group’s journey, their eclectic sound, and the influence that living in Midtown has had on his creative process. Read on for our full interview!
Can you share a bit about your background and what initially drew you to pursue art as a passion or career?
I started DJ’ing in the late 90’s and became a fan of all musical genres. The art of blending and scratching records was fascinating to me, and it wasn’t until 4 years ago when Kenja and I linked up to create Strings 2 the Groove. Having a violinist that has a background in DJ’ing as well added that missing element in my DJ sets. Since then, we’ve been in sync to whatever comes our way. Kenja comes from a family of musicians, so growing up, he learned to appreciate and play all sorts of music.
How would you describe your artistic style and what sets your work apart from other artists?
Most DJ & instrumental partners are specialists in their own craft who find ways to play around each other. However, both of us are DJs and have played together a long time, which gives us a telepathic ability to perform in a free-flowing improvisational manner just like how a DJ would read a crowd and rock a party. We rarely perform pre-planned sets, and no two performances are ever the same. We feed off of what our audiences give us and love creating intimate magical moments at every show with our audiences.
How did you first get involved with Second Saturday, and what does it mean to you as a local artist?
I remember Second Saturdays from when I was DJ’ing in front of Havoc Boutique in Midtown circa 2010. The scene until this day has flourished and it was so cool to be part of the movement. I remember having DJ battles outside and emcees would come up and grab the mic for a freestyle session. I’ve also curated this event called the Art of the DJ where I created a RUN DMC tribute DJ set and had local artists paint and create shirts featuring RUN DMC. It’s ideas like this that ignite the creative energy which paved the way for all our future event experiences.
How long have you lived in Midtown?
I’ve been a native of Midtown for 5 years now. But when I moved here in 2004, I stayed in Midtown for a few years and moved to other surrounding areas like Oak Park and East Sac. Kenja, on the other hand, is an Elk Grove native. He comes to Midtown often though for events we have as Strings 2 the Groove.
What impact has living in Midtown had on your creative process or artistic style?
Midtown has a distinct style. We would characterize it as youthful, imaginative, colorful, and accepting. The Midtown vibe is perfect for us because we love to push our creative boundaries and Midtown folks are not only accepting, but appreciative of our work.
What are some of your aspirations or goals as an artist, both in terms of your personal growth and the impact you hope to make through your art?
We hope to provide more frequent entertainment and joy to our community. We value impacting our local neighbors more than being globally known. If we can make regular appearances in Sacramento first, and then expand to our Northern California neighbors, that would be amazing.
How does participating in events like Midtown Second Saturday allow you to connect with your audience or community in ways that are unique compared to other platforms or venues?
Other events aren’t necessarily community focused. We enjoy playing all shows of course, however Second Saturday gives us a unique platform to share our genuine selves with our neighbors. We appreciate that Second Saturday puts an effort to showcase local talent; it’s a great way for music players and music listeners to discover each other.
This Midtown Second Saturday Artist Feature is brought to you by Live Midtown Sponsors: Demmon Partners/16 Powerhouse, 19J Midtown, The Press at Midtown Quarter Apartments, and 17Central
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