About us

Sounds of Saving is a music and mental health nonprofit. We help people use music to take care of their mental health, with young people at heart. We make films where artists share the song that carried them, bring a music-based curriculum into schools, and keep a directory of vetted mental-health support. Our work is built to be inclusive, with care for the people too often left out of it.

Follow along on Instagram and Facebook, where we share new work and post regularly.

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.***
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 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 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Data Summary & Trends Report: 2011-2021

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

  • Co-Founder

    Nick Greto

    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.

  • Co-Founder

    Charlie Gross

    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.

Board of Directors

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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

Musicians, producers, clinicians, photographers, and label heads who shape and vouch for the work. This roster is also our proof: the artists and experts who stand behind Sounds of Saving.

  • Alec Bemis Alec is the cofounder of Brassland, along with Aaron and Bryce Dessner of The National. He is...
  • 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...
  • Bryndon Cook Bryndon Cook is a multidisciplinary artist, actor and music director. Composing and recording...
  • Caithlin De Marrais Caithlin De Marrais is a songwriter, musician, and public school music teacher based in...
  • Dana Wachs Live sound engineer for Cat Power, Deerhunter, St. Vincent and others, musical director for...
  • Dave Bellevue Dave is a musician in the group The Oxymorrons and a mental health advocate. Dave has worked...
  • Dr. Anna Palumbo Dr. Anna Palumbo is the Research Manager at the Nordoff-Robbins Center for Music Therapy, New...
  • Emily Lazar Grammy winning, American mastering engineer, Emily is the founder, president, and chief...
  • Erica Sewell Erica Sewell is founder of CreativeTypes; a talent advising consultancy. She’s led creative...
  • Eric Dammann Dr. Eric Dammann is a clinical psychologist/psychoanalyst and executive coach with a private...
  • Francis Rodriguez Francis Rodriguez is a New York City based hair stylist and groomer. With 10 years of experience...
  • Gary Gunn Gary is a composer, music producer, and audiovisual artist noted for his genre-defying musical...
  • Graham Macindoe Graham is a documentary and portrait photographer whose work focuses on a range of social...
  • Haley Elizabeth Anderson Haley Elizabeth Anderson is a writer, filmmaker, and visual artist born in Houston, Texas. Named...
  • 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...
  • John Beeler John Beeler has worked in the music industry for two decades, from running a college radio...
  • Julia Cumming Julia is the frontwoman and bass player of Sunflower Bean and a political activist. In 2017 she...
  • Julian Berman Julian is a technologist and open source software developer based in New York City with a deep...
  • 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...
  • Mark Elzey Mark Elzey is a fashion, portrait, and commercial photographer working across New York, Los...
  • Martin Mycoo A rare Los Angeles native, Inglewood born and raised, Martin Mycoo is a Music Supervisor for TV...
  • Meshell Ndegeocello musician
  • Michele Fleischli Michele has been an artist manager for two decades, guiding the careers of Bad Religion, Sonic...
  • Nate Auerbach Nate is a partner at Versus Creative, where he specializes in digital platforms and strategic...
  • Nathan Larson Nathan Larson is a musician (SHUDDER TO THINK/ SWIZ) / film composer who has created music for...
  • Nick Hakim Nick is a musician and R&B singer based in Queens, NY who attended Berklee College of Music. His...
  • Nicole Hegeman Nicole Hegeman is an Artist Manager, A&R Consultant, and Executive Producer in music. Originally...
  • Peter Shapiro Peter is a club owner, concert promoter, and entrepreneur. He owns Brooklyn Bowl and The Capitol...
  • Robert Galligan Robert Galligan is a clinical psychologist in private practice in Brooklyn, NY. Dr. Galligan...
  • Ryan Hall Ryan Hall is a therapist and record label owner living in Cincinnati, OH. Ryan is a Licensed...
  • Sharon Van Etten Sharon Van Etten is a musician, performer, and actress, and recognized as one of the most...
  • Taja Cheek Under the mononym L'Rain, Taja Cheek records and performs music rooted in r&b, jazz, noise, and...

Partners and supporters