meet the architects

KRISTIAN BUSH
Architect in Chief

Kristian Bush, one half of international super duo Sugarland, has been leaving his mark on music for the past 22 years. Bush is a Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist who started his career with folk rock duo Billy Pilgrim in the early ’90s. He and partner Andrew Hyra released a much-lauded pair of albums for Atlantic Records (their 1994 self-titled debut and 1995’s Bloom), earning multiple Top 5 singles on the AAA charts, rotation on VH1 and a reputation as dynamic live performers who traveled from the tiny stage of Eddie’s Attic in Decatur, Georgia, to a worldwide tour supporting Melissa Etheridge in 1995. Bush began recording with partner Jennifer Nettles in 2002; in 2004, Sugarland exploded onto the music scene and haven’t stopped since.  They have surpassed sales of over 22 million albums worldwide, achieved eight No. 1 singles and won numerous awards, including trophies from the Grammys, AMAs, ACM Awards, CMT Music Awards and CMA Awards. To date, Bush has won six BMI Awards for his songwriting abilities and in 2011 founded the music publishing company and songwriting collective Songs of the Architect. Recent producing / songwriting collaborations include Laura Bell Bundy, Matt Nathanson, the dB’s, Martin Johnson of Boys Like Girls and up-and-comers including Jaida Dreyer and Alana Springsteen. He is a frequent panelist and speaker at events for the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, and was recently honored as a distinguished alumni by his high school alma mater, Avon Old Farms. Bush is a graduate of Emory University in Atlanta, where he still resides.

BRANDON BUSH
Architect
From an ambitious childhood activity schedule that included gymnastics, ballet and a failed attempt at t-ball, it was violin lessons at the age of four that piqued Brandon’s interest. With the support and encouragement of his musical co-conspirator brother, his parents, and a slew of fantastic music teachers, an interest in music evolved into a profession. As a studio musician, Brandon has performed on over 100 recordings including Grammy nominated and winning releases by John Mayer, Sugarland and Shawn Mullins. As a member of the multi-platinum-selling rock band Train, Brandon toured the world, indulging in his life-long rock and roll fantasy of performing a keyboard solo on a smoke-emitting Moog synthesizer. In addition to touring with Sugarland, Brandon can be heard on his weekly radio show on AM1690, Mondays 5-7pm est. With a sweet tooth to challenge the Cookie Monster himself, Brandon can often be found hovering over the bread pudding in catering.

TOM TAPLEY
Architect

Hailing from the great state of Alabama, Grammy-nominated producer/engineer Tom Tapley has engineered tracks from artists as diverse as Destiny’s Child, T.I., The Counting Crows and Elton John. In 2004 he was hired to be chief engineer at Southern Tracks, where he had the privilege of becoming part of Brendan O’Brien’s elite team and for the next five years engineered records for Pearl Jam, Bruce Springsteen, Train, The Wallflowers, and many more. In the last few years Tom has been splitting his time between Nashville and Atlanta, working with the likes of Sugarland, Faith Hill, Martina McBride and super-producer Byron Gallimore. He also contributes his exceptional talents producing hits for indie artists The Goldest, Dead Rabbits, Six Shot Revival, and Zruda. In 2011, Tom mixed Tom Morello’s critically acclaimed The Nightwatchman “World Wide Rebel Songs” and Atlanta’s bluegrass sensation The Mosier Brothers Band “On My Way.” He also engineered the smash collaboration of Sugarland and Lady Gaga on “You and I.”