Sugarplums is a song-based duo with catchy melodies that self-describe themselves as "whimsy pop." Guitarist Gerry has honed his skills for over 20 years and can virtually improvise on any stringed instrument, while lead vocalist Alzara is told her vocals have a plaintive, feminine mystique. Sugarplums songs spring to life naturally and honestly, in both unusual and mundane circumstances. Often while Alzara is improvising in the shower, Gerry is surreptitiously hiding with his small cassette recorder, capturing each word, each change. Within the hour, he has the chords all written out and a song is born. 

Core members Alzara and Gerry met in Philadelphia when Gerry answered a room-for-rent advertisement. Gerry wanted a change of scenery. Actually he had completely totaled a large trailer that he hoped to travel the country with and had received a small settlement. It seemed like a great time to move. Alzara's was the first ad he answered. At the time, Alzara was taking a break from music in order to focus on academics and build a new career. She hardly knew anyone in the area anyway. But music found her and a magical collaboration began. Gerry left a demo tape with various ideas in the living room and Alzara couldn’t resist adding words and vocal melodies to them, using the little fostex 4-track machine that was so conveniently left by the couch.
Perhaps the first epiphany that defined their writing style came with the song “Cinder.” A friend of Gerry's from Virginia and her dog were staying with Alzara temporarily. One night there was a casual gathering of people in the house -  roommates, cats, dogs, etc. milling about and in general a lot of commotion. Alzara began singing to the dog, “hello little Cinder, this isn't Charlottesville anymore…’ “Wait,” Gerry said, and grabbed his tape recorder. “Keep singing that.” Alzara continued while Gerry followed her about the house. What you hear on the first verse of Cinder is pretty much verbatim what was recorded that night. The second verse refers to Alzara’s cat who later passed away.

 Despite no budget, when Alzara moved back to San Francisco, the two found a way to get together every few months and record many of their best pieces on an old, dusty 8-track machine. You may hear the sound of a bus go by if you listen carefully. What the Sugarplums lack in money and resources, they hope to make up for in spontaneity, warmth and intuitively great songwriting skills.

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