Our Team
General Management
Spike Nailz and Kacy Lerner
Hello! We are the co-owners and founders of Midwest Gold Records. Spike handles our booking of shows and band management while Kacy handles the audio engineering, live sound, as well as video and audio production. We brought our forces together to run a non-intrusive DIY record label that provides backing support to the West Michigan music scene and its surrounding areas.
General inquiries can be answered here
Kacy Lerner (left) and Spike Nails (right) photographed outside of Upstairs, Man Studios (2023)
Olivia St Arnold - Graphic Artist/Photographer
Hello!! I’m Olivia :) I’m a photographer, videographer, illustrator/designer, and crocheter! I love collaborating and capturing peoples authentic selfs!
Ben Dewitt - Audio Engineer/Mastering Services
Ben Dewitt is a singer/songwriter and production specialist who has been rooted in the Grand rapids Music scene for several years. Catch Ben on drums with Pretoria, on guitar with Short Panic, or with you, helping make a great track.
Culture.M4a - MIXING/MASTERING
Name: [Cult]ure.m4a
Aka: Conrad Shock
Aka: Johnrad
𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝒟𝒶𝓇𝓀 𝒜𝓇𝓉𝓈 𝑜𝒻 𝑀𝒾𝓍𝒾𝓃𝑔, 𝑀𝒶𝓈𝓉𝑒𝓇𝒾𝓃𝑔, 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝒫𝑜𝓈𝓉-𝒫𝓇𝑜𝒹𝓊𝒸𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃
Engineering sessions since 2016, and building a signature sound and style ever since.
My golden rule: make something more of what it is
My process is not like most engineers’. I don’t compress the hell outa your tracks. I believe in fatting them up from the middle instead of squashing them down from the top.
I use my own surgical method of side-chaining and automation to make space in a mix rather than carving the hell outa tracks with EQs and whatnots.
Less is always more, and rather than try to warp things to fit my vision, I listen to the tracks and let the tracks shape themselves.
I am Artificial Intelligence.
Your grandkids will mix like me.
***my work varies over many genres, and while you can get an idea of what I do from my resume of works, I’d recommend getting me to mix/master one of ur songs as test to see what I’d do for ur sound. If Ryne says ur cool I'll do the first one for free.
Isaac R. (EyezikMedia) - Photography
McKenzie Blasi - Journalist/Promoter
Mckenzie Blasi is a music journalist from Kittery, Maine currently enrolled at Michigan State University. She’s known for her insightful commentary and deep passion for the music industry. With a keen ear for emerging talent and a knack for storytelling, she has contributed to various platforms, from online publications like MidwestGold to managing her own music magazine(Who Are You Anyways). Mckenzie’s work spans diverse genres, reflecting her belief that every style of music has a story worth telling.
Her interviews with artists range from indie newcomers to established icons, offering readers a glimpse into the creative processes and personal journeys behind the music. Mckenzie is also an advocate for music education and often shares her insights on the importance of supporting local artists. When she’s not writing, she’s attending live shows, always on the lookout for the next great sound.