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  • Our Team

    Our Team

    We think this stuff is fun; come play/work/build/innovate with us

Who We Are

Sounds Essential is an independent company offering website design and development, FileMaker and custom app development, and marketing in the Blue Ridge Mountain region of Western North Carolina. Backed by more than twenty-five years' combined experience in the fields of marketing, operations and IT management, we focus on providing innovative yet cost-efficient solutions for small, independent and start-up businesses, organizations and individuals.

Our Team

Sounds Essential got its start as a registered music publishing company, representing the interests of musicians, composers and smaller publishing companies in the United Kingdom and throughout Europe. Partnering with artists from all over the world gave us a front-row seat to the challenges and obstacles faced when small or independent groups are scrambling to take care of the business side of things. So we expanded our services to help those artists and other small or independently owned and operated businesses and organizations succeed and grow despite limitations that often include shoestring budgets and stressed out in-house resources.

 
 
Duncan Baker

Duncan Baker

Co-Owner, Lead Developer & Business Services

With a background in international operations and IT management, Duncan Baker's expertise lies in finding modern, sensible solutions to the problems that often hinder or prevent a business from running as effectively and efficiently as possible. His previous work experience includes General Manager at World Music Network (London) and VP of Operations at Putumayo World Music (New York). He is a graduate of Kings College in London, England.

Malice Grant

Malice Grant

Co-Owner; Project Management & Business Services
Mary Alice (Malice) Grant has worked for more than 15 years in the fields of music, educational travel and tourism marketing. Her previous experience includes Assistant Director of Marketing for AMNH Expeditions at the American Museum of Natural History, Marketing Director at Putumayo World Music, and as a freelance marketing consultant for software developers, independent retailers, real estate agents, artists and musicians. She is a graduate of Smith College.