Sounds of Saving (SoS) is a 501c(3) non-profit that designs and provides tools, content, resources, and curriculum to young people, ages 14 to 24, on how to discover and utilize music to support their mental health and wellness. Our programs are designed to be intersectional and inclusive, with strong attention paid to marginalized communities.

Why Now

The mental health crisis amongst adolescents and young adults has reached a staggering and dangerous peak, worsened by the epidemic of loneliness. Young people are battling this crisis with very limited tools and resources being made available to them.

• “The mortality impact of being socially disconnected is similar to that caused by smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day”*

• Young adults are twice as likely to be lonely than seniors. 79% of [young] adults aged 18 to 24 report feeling lonely compared to 41% of seniors aged 66 and older. This is consistent with earlier research.**

• In 2021, more than 4 in 10 (42%) students felt persistently sad or hopeless and nearly one-third (29%) experienced poor mental health. More than 1 in 5 (22%) students seriously considered attempting suicide and 1 in 10 (10%) attempted suicide.***

*Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation: The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on the Healing Effects of Social Connection and Community, 2023
**The Loneliness Epidemic Persists: A Post-Pandemic Look at the State of Loneliness among U.S. Adults, The Cigna Group
***CDC's You'th Risk Behavior Surveillance Data Summary & Trends Report: 2011-2021
The school mental health workforce needs to be built out. Instead of relying only on clinicians with advanced degrees, the system needs a more expansive approach that uses the skills and training of a wide range of people.

There needs to be something in the middle.
— Sharon Hoover, a professor of child and adolescent psychiatry and co-director of the National Center for School Mental Health at the University of Maryland’s School of Medicine

Our Approach

SoS is focused on meeting this moment through the responsible development of a cutting edge curriculum, live community building music experiences and content focused on mental wellness and emotional regulation through the use of music. Our programs are young adult centered, culturally competent and highly engaging—with many opportunities for self-led discovery and peer bonding. 

Founding Story


SoS was founded in response to the loss of our co-founder Nick Greto’s beloved Uncle Mike, who died by suicide. The passing of his uncle inspired him to take a more in depth look into the ways that we talk about mental health and how we seek and receive help. For millions of people like Nick, who come from households where the idea of mental healthcare was not acknowledged, music served as the portal to accessing, processing, and regulating emotions. Experiencing music and lyrics is a universal way of connecting to ourselves and others. This truth became the basis of SoS.
 

SoS began in 2018 as a nonprofit studio that focused on the creation of impactful content featuring artists and musicians telling their stories of perseverance and coping through mental health crises. In 2019, Charlie Gross joined Nick as a co-founder at SoS, bringing with him the unique perspective of having worked professionally within the music world and as a licensed and practicing psychotherapist. Together, they have been working to grow the organization into one that harnesses the power of music and storytelling as a bridge to overall mental health and wellness.

Team

Nick Greto

Nick Greto

Co-Founder

nick@soundsofsaving.com

‍Nick created Sounds of Saving in 2017 as a response to losing his uncle to suicide. He has always found solace in music. Nick grew up in a family of musicians, creates music himself, has written for music publications, and even helped found a small Brooklyn record label.

A graduate of Widener University with a degree in psychology, he has been involved in technology and music in NYC since 2007. Nick currently resides in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn with his wife, Dana, and two daughters.

Anjali Ramasunder

Interim executive director

anjali@soundsofsaving.com

Anjali has served in senior development and partnerships roles at music industry and media based organizations like the TJ Martell Foundation, Music Will and the Ad Council, and in her years as a consultant has worked with many companies, artists and athletes on their social impact initiatives. She most recently served as the Interim VP of Programming at NationSwell, where she was brought in to build their events team and design their new programming products that are core to servicing their C and principle level executive members, in the areas of CSR/ESG/Corporate Philanthropy. She is a cultural organizer and believes strongly in the power that music and art have on wellness.

Dorothy Fuqua

DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT

dorothy@soundsofsaving.com

Dorothy is an avid music fan and lifelong champion of mental health advocacy who has spent her life cultivating a passion for the nonprofit world. Before joining Sounds of Saving, she worked at two foundations focusing on mental health treatment and spent a summer working and living in Gulu, Uganda educating women on business and healthcare. Dorothy attended the NYU Stern School of Business, and since graduating, has committed her time to volunteering in her community and serving on several foundation junior boards. If there is a Bluegrass concert anywhere in New York, you are likely to find Dorothy in the front row.

Isa Tariq

RESIDENT PROJECT MANAGER

isatariq@soundsofsaving.com

Isa is a facilitator, DJ, and passionate advocate for equitable access to high quality mental health care for all communities. He works regularly with both artists and organizers, bridging the two worlds with the intent of creating experiences that make people more free. Isa grew up listening to U2 and Dipset, reading Audre Lorde and the Boondocks, and using art as a way to process both the world around him and his own emotions. Currently a psychology major at Amherst College, he believes mental health and trauma are linked to every issue of injustice and that art is a powerful asset in the fight for a more just world.

Charlie Gross

Charlie Gross

Co-Founder

charlie@soundsofsaving.com

Charlie is a psychotherapist and photographer based in Brooklyn. His photography work explores the overlap between creativity and mental health. In the ‘90s, Charlie was a personal photographer for Beck and based his work largely in the music world. His current work includes a long-term artist residency at Kings County Hospital in which he uses collaborative photography with young adult patients to tell their stories.

Charlie treated young adult patients with substance use and psychiatric disorders at the Weill Cornell Medical Center and in private practice. He holds a BA in Comparative Literature from Columbia University and an MA in Clinical Psychology from the City University of New York.

Cassie Archdeacon

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

cassie@soundsofsaving.com

Cassie has a a background in arts programming, management, and operations. She started her career in the literary world as an event producer and artist manager, launching a globally accessible virtual writing program that continues to thrive today. She holds an undergraduate degree from NYU Gallatin and an MFA in Creative Writing from The New School, where she served as a teaching fellow. 

Alyssa Goldberg

EDITORIAL LEAD + OPERATIONS ASSISTANT

alyssa@soundsofsaving.com

Alyssa is a passionate mental health advocate, writer, and photographer. Her work utilizes educational and creative media to advance health literacy and aims to bridge the gap between the arts and public health. She is a master's student in the Media, Medicine, and Health program at Harvard Medical School and holds a Bachelor of Science in Global Public Health and Applied Psychology from NYU. Her writing appears in Teen Vogue, Paste Magazine, Mary Christie Quarterly, 988 Lifeline, and elsewhere.

Board of Directors

Nate Auerbach

Nate is a partner at Versus Creative where he specializes in digital platforms and strategic partnerships for high profile clients like Spotify. Previously, he spent four years as Head of Music at Tumblr and worked at The Collective talent management company in LA, spearheading artists' digital strategies. 

Perry Bashkoff

Perry is a veteran leader with over 25 years of experience in music, entertainment, and social media. As co-founder of Buzz1441 and former Director of Music Partnerships at Meta, he's been recognized by Billboard Magazine for his contributions to the industry.

Julian Berman

Julian works as a Technical Lead of API Specifications at the API platform Postman. Previously, he has been an adjunct professor at Columbia University and Vice President of Engineering at Deloitte Digital. 

Dr. Eric Dammann

Eric is a psychologist/psychoanalyst and executive coach with a private practice in Manhattan, along with being a clinical supervisor at Columbia University and editor of several professional journals. He is also proud to work at the William Alanson White Institute where he serves as Co-Director of the Artists program.

Mariana D'Andrea

Mariana is an Associate General Counsel in International Business and Legal Affairs at Roku and serves as a guest lecturer at the NYU Stern School of Business. In her 20+ years as an attorney, she has previously worked as Vice President Associate General Counsel for both Tubi and Paramount International. 

Das Dasgupta

Das is the Chief Data and AI Officer at Saatchi & Saatchi, leading their "Moneyball Team" with over 25 years of analytics experience. He also serves as an adjunct professor at USC's Marshall School of Business and advises startups like Data Facade and Skan.ai.

John Draper

John is an international expert in crisis intervention and suicide prevention with over 30 years of experience. He has led significant initiatives in crisis services, including the establishment of New York City's LifeNet hotline and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Currently serving as President of Research and Development at Behavioral Health Link, Inc., he continues to advance crisis care through research, data, and technology.

Corey Ferengul

Corey serves on the boards of many Chicago based organizations, including Hyde Park Angels, Big Happy, and Packback. Previously, he has served as the CEO of the HR tech firm Yello.

Adrienne C. Moore

Adrienne is an acclaimed actress known for her roles in "Pretty Hard Cases" and "Orange is the New Black," receiving SAG and NAACP Image Award nominations. She's also a prominent voice artist for brands and a dedicated advocate for rescue animals, volunteering with organizations like the ASPCA and Comfort Zone Camp.

Brian Mullaney

Brian is the Chief Revenue Officer at AllTrack Performing Rights, leading revenue strategies. With over 25 years of experience, he's held executive roles at BMI and other major companies, specializing in revenue generation and team leadership. He is now based in Nashville, Tennessee. 

Martin Myoco

Martin is a Music Supervisor at Format Entertainment, recently working on Marvel’s Secret Invasion and Loki season 2. Before Format, he worked for an in- house music supervision team all3Media and worked on promotional campaigns at record labels. 

Arianna Orpello

Arianna is the Global Chief Brand Officer at Goldman Sachs and a marketing dynamo. She previously worked as a Senior Vice President in Marketing Strategy for TD Bank and is a member of several NYC based boards.

Erica Sewell

Erica is the CEO of Creative Types, a platform for career development and advocacy for global creatives. Previously, she worked as Head of Talent Acquisition and Head of Inclusion for Netflix, and still serves as a Women in Entertainment Mentor for The Hollywood Reporter.

Bradley Tusk

Bradley is a venture capitalist, political strategist, philanthropist, and writer. He founded Tusk Venture Partners, Tusk Strategies, and Ivory Gaming Acquisition Corp, and advocates for mobile voting and anti-hunger campaigns through Tusk Philanthropies. Additionally, he writes, hosts a podcast, and owns P&T Knitwear in Manhattan.

Advisory Board

Hover over each name to learn more about our advisory board members:

Alec Bemis

Alec is the cofounder of Brassland, along with Aaron and Bryce Dessner of The National. He is also a writer, critic, journalist, and speaker.

Alex Rosamilia

musician, founding member Gaslight Anthem, Dead Swords

Brittney King Brock

Brittney is a music executive, entrepreneur, wellness enthusiast, and the founder of King Creative Group, an artist services and management company whose clients include Quality Control Music, Lil Baby, City Girls, & Jamaica Craft. She is the President of Operations at 10k Projects record label whose artists include Trippie Redd, Iann Dior & Surfaces, as well as a wellness advocate. Her personal brand Women Like Me is a dedicated platform to educate burned out, busy, overworked women in creative industries on how to slow down and make time to nurture their mind, body, and spirit.

Bryndon Cook

Bryndon Cook is a multidisciplinary artist, actor and music director. Composing and recording music as Starchild & The New Romantic, Cook released his sophomore LP, “Forever,” in 2020. Previous creative work includes collaborations with the Newark Boys Chorus, Solange Knowles, Maggie Rogers, Telfar, the Guggenheim Museum, Sydney Opera House, Hollywood Bowl and more. Television and film credits include season three of “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” (Amazon, 2020) and Lin Manuel Miranda’s “Tick, Tick… Boom!” (Netflix, 2021) and others. Cook has previously worked as an educator for Shakespeare Theater Company in Washington DC and smaller programs in the Maryland area.

Caithlin De Marrais

Caithlin De Marrais is a songwriter, musician, and public school music teacher based in Connecticut. She is a founding member of the rock band Rainer Maria, has gone to #1 on college radio, been awarded Top Ten Album of the Year by SPIN magazine, and twice appeared on the cover of the Arts section of the New York Times. In addition to her three decades of collaborative work with artists working in a variety of media, Caithlin has released four albums under her own name to great acclaim. She holds undergraduate degrees from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and the University of Bridgeport, and an MMEdu from U–Bridgeport. She specializes in working with musicians who have disabilities or are neurodivergent. Caithlin develops district-wide curricula and teaches music to students from Pre-K through High School in Bridgeport, Connecticut. She is the proud mother of two fabulous children.

Dana Wachs

Live sound engineer for Cat Power, Deerhunter, St. Vincent and others, musical director for Rachel Comey, and singer songwriter for Vorhees.

Dave Bellevue

Dave is a musician in the group The Oxymorrons and a mental health advocate. Dave has worked with the Jed Foundation and was featured in Time Magazine’s The Future of Mental Health

Emily Lazar

Grammy winning, American mastering engineer, Emily is the founder, president, and chief mastering engineer of The Lodge, an audio mastering facility that has operated in New York City's Greenwich Village since 1997.

Eric Dammann

Dr. Eric Dammann is a clinical psychologist/psychoanalyst and executive coach with a private practice in Manhattan. He specializes in executive coaching, financial counseling, and psychotherapy. Aside from his private practice, he is clinical supervisor at Columbia University and the William Alanson White Institute, where he is also Co-Director of the Artists Program. He is an associate editor of the professional journals Contemporary Psychoanalysis and The Journal of Financial Therapy. He graduated Magna Cum Laude and was Phi Beta Kappa at Bucknell University, and received his doctorate from Michigan State University. He completed psychoanalytic training at the William Alanson White Institute, and executive coach training at The College of Executive Coaching. When not working, he can be found hanging with his family, dog, and drum set.

Francis Rodriguez

Francis Rodriguez is a New York City based hair stylist and groomer. With 10 years of experience in editorial styling, Rodriguez specializes in creating both sleek and effortlessly undone looks for textures of all types, and wig cutting, coloring, and styling. Inspired by his Chicano culture and ‘70s-’80s era punk, Rodriguez has created looks for the likes of Julia Fox, Maye Musk, Awkwafina, Ciara, Bowen Yang, and more. His editorial work appears in the pages of L’Officiel, Paper, Numero, and Ladygunn, among others, and his commercial clients include UGG, Grailed, Makeup Forever, and Mario Badescu.

Gary Gunn

Gary is a composer, music producer, and audiovisual artist noted for his genre-defying musical aesthetic and forward-thinking application of sound across contemporary art, film, augmented/virtual realities, and botanical environments.

Graham Macindoe

Graham is a documentary and portrait photographer whose work focuses on a range of social justice issues, including drug policy and criminal justice reform, as well as music and running—a lifelong passion he continues today. An associate professor of photography at Parsons School of Design in New York City, Graham has worked as a photographer for more than 20 years and has published and exhibited his work widely, including solo exhibitions at the National Arts Club in New York City in 2021, the Contemporary Arts Center in Cincinnati in 2018, and the Scottish National Portrait Gallery in 2017.

Haley Elizabeth Anderson

Haley Elizabeth Anderson is a writer, filmmaker, and visual artist born in Houston, Texas. Named one of Filmmaker Magazine’s “25 New Faces of Independent Film,” Haley’s films have played Tribeca, Sundance, Rotterdam and won awards at SXSW and AFI. Her feature film Tendaberry premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. She is currently working on her second feature with support from SFFILM, Gotham, Tribeca, Sundance, Ucross Foundation, and Film Independent.

Jamie Feldman

Jamie is a non-profit, tech start-up, and L&D expert.

Joanna P. Elliot

Nonprofit management consultant including for Jennifer Lopez’s "Lopez Family Foundation" and Linkin Park’s "Music For Relief"

John Beeler

John Beeler has worked in the music industry for two decades, from running a college radio station to directing the independently owned record label of Oscar-nominated artist Sufjan Stevens. John also serves as an artist manager, community marketer, mental health advocate, and is a passionate co-conspirator in the creation and celebration of sustainable art and music

Julia Cumming

Julia is the frontwoman and bass player of Sunflower Bean and a political activist. In 2017 she founded Anger Can Be Power, a project that "endeavors to invoke the DIY spirit to inspire people to integrate political involvement in their lives." She is also active in the Model Alliance.

Ken Weinstein

Ken is the co-founder and co-president of Big Hassle Media.

Lisa Gottheil

Co-founder and partner at Grandstand Media. Has worked in the music business for 30 years. She is on the board of Josh’s Fund, a non-profit that works to provide educational support for nurses working on bone marrow and stem cell transplant units. She is also the co-founder of The Sled, a NYC non-profit that assists underprivileged NYC Public School students and their families, most of whom live in shelters or other temporary housing.

Mark Elzey

Mark Elzey is a fashion, portrait, and commercial photographer working across New York, Los Angeles, and Europe. Originally from Bogalusa, Louisiana, Mark’s life has always been filled with art. From watching his grandmother paint, to early placement in magnet charter schools as a gifted creative, Mark’s world is rooted in self expression and originality. Now residing in Brooklyn, Mark finds the city provides him with an endless source of inspiration.

Nick Hakim

Nick is a musician and R&B singer based in Queens, NY who attended Berklee College of Music. His third studio album, Cometa, was released in October 2022 with critical acclaim.

Nicole Hegeman

Nicole Hegeman is an Artist Manager, A&R Consultant, and Executive Producer in music. Originally from Burlington, Vermont, where there was an unusually rich and diverse music scene, Nicole’s love of music took her into roles as radio DJ and producer, event manager, stage manager, festival organizer, photographer, publisher and writer.

Owen Grover

Owen is the CEO of TrueFire Studios with a 20+ year career in media, technology and content. He is also a founding member of the iHeartRadio team.

Peter Shapiro

Peter is a club owner, concert promoter, and entrepreneur. He owns Brooklyn Bowl and The Capitol Theatre, is a publisher of Relix magazine, and is a chairman of HeadCount, a non-profit organization that works with musicians to promote participation in democracy, with a focus on registering voters at live music events. In 2022 he published a book: The Music Never Stops: What Putting on 10,000 Shows Has Taught Me About Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Magic.

Robert Galligan

Robert Galligan is a clinical psychologist in private practice in Brooklyn, NY. Dr. Galligan works with families, couples, and individuals in psychotherapy. He is particularly interested in helping parents develop more harmonious, satisfying relationships with their children and supporting individuals’ efforts to bring meaning and purpose to their lives. Dr. Galligan is on the advisory board of Sounds of Saving and is a Special Adjunct Professor/Clinical Supervisor at Long Island University. Dr. Galligan holds a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Long Island University and a B.A. in English from Yale University. In his spare time, he surfs, makes music, and coaches flag football.

Ryan Hall

Ryan Hall is a therapist and record label owner living in Cincinnati, OH. Ryan is a Licensed Independent Social Worker trained in and practicing EMDR therapy while also providing consultation to communities receiving federal funding to address youth homelessness. Ryan has run the experimental record label Whited Sepulchre Records since 2016 which has seen releases by Midwife, Joy Guidry, Endlings (Raven Chacon + John Dieterich) and many more.

Sharon Van Etten

Sharon Van Etten is a musician, performer, and actress, and recognized as one of the most influential and iconic songwriters of our time. She released her sixth full-length album, We’ve Been Going About This All Wrong, this past May. Leading into its release, Pitchfork profiled Van Etten stating, “Sharon Van Etten Is an Institution Now,” while Rolling Stone called her “one of the most fearless, soul-shredding songwriters on the planet.” Van Etten made her return to The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in support of the new album and took the “soul-strengthening” (New Yorker) Wild Hearts Tour with Angel Olsen and Julien Baker all over the country. In support of Van Etten’s 2019 release, Remind Me Tomorrow, she was profiled in The New York Times’ Arts & Leisure section and the album was featured prominently in best of 2019 lists by NPR Music, Billboard, Fresh Air, Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, ESQUIRE, The New Yorker and more. Van Etten has collaborated with artists ranging from Courtney Barnett and Joshua Homme to Norah Jones and Angel Olsen, and been covered by artists including Fiona Apple, Lucinda Williams, Big Red Machine and Idles. She has performed on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Austin City Limits TV and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

Taja Cheek

Under the mononym L'Rain, Taja Cheek records and performs music rooted in r&b, jazz, noise, and pop, using voice memos and manipulated samples as inspiration and source material. Cheek has toured internationally with her band in support of her second album, Fatigue, the Wire’s #1 album of 2021, and the #2 album in Pitchfork’s year end list. Her most recent album, I Killed Your Dog, also earned praise from outlets including The New York Times, NPR, The New Yorker, and Artforum, among many others, and she has been featured on the cover of The Wire and Paste’s last digital issue of 2023. A frequent collaborator, she has worked with artists including Helado Negro; Okay, Kaya; Naama Tsabar; and Kevin Beasley. She has also toured with and opened for musicians including Animal Collective, Moses Sumney, Sharon Van Etten, Brittany Howard, Deerhunter, and Big Thief. In addition to her work as an artist, Cheek is a curator. As an Associate Curator at Large, she led performance programs at MoMA PS1. Prior, she worked closely with artists to realize projects at institutions including Creative Time and The High Line. She co-founded a DIY rehearsal and performance space in her neighborhood that primarily supports experimental music. Cheek is currently a guest curator for the upcoming Whitney Biennial.