Heavy Lifting: Neo-Soul Singer-Songwriter Trianna Feruza Brings the Funk
By Julie Horner
Trianna Feruza is a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist based in Santa Cruz whose superpower is creating community with her gift of music. With a unique voice and full-body feels, her sound is pop-funk fusion with an unmistakable R&B twist. Think the soulful depth of Erykah Badu meets the bold spirit of Amy Winehouse. With roots deeply embedded in the folk and world music scene, Trianna’s rich musical upbringing shines through in her musical interpretation and magnetic stage presence solo and with her band The Heavy Hitters.
Trianna draws inspiration from a lifelong immersion in music, dance, and community. Her grandfather, Solomon Feldthouse of the psychedelic rock group Kaleidoscope, performed alongside legends like Leonard Cohen. Her grandmother was a professional belly dancer in the Los Angeles area. The whole family is steeped in the folk music scene. Trianna spent her youth surrounded by Balkan jam sessions, hip-hop cyphers, jazz choirs, and belly dance and flamenco gatherings, all inspiring her wide-ranging musical palette. Her live performances are vivid, and audiences are invited into a world of soulful and authentic storytelling with powerful vocals, thought-provoking lyrics, and dynamic musicianship that make you want to shake your butt, pump your fist, and shout out with joy. “Trianna is an incredible singer and musician with passion that shines through onstage,” writes multimedia artist Jelly Cidaria. “Her positivity radiates throughout every space she’s in, and I’m always excited when I get to work with her.”
Trianna Feruza & The Heavy Hitters
Her band, Trianna Feruza & The Heavy Hitters, take the indie-funk and groove with it, earning comparisons like “No Doubt meets Anderson Paak jamming at a Sly and the Family Stone party.” Fresh off their sizzling debut at the 2026 Redwood Mountain Faire in Felton, the audience got a danceable dose of the band’s tight, high-energy on-stage presence and electric crowd connection. With Trianna on vocals and rhythm guitar, Josh Baldwin on lead guitar, Zach Latham on bass, and Ryan Ouse on drums, The Heavy Hitters have performed at major events including NAMM Show 2026, Lucidity Festival, Joshua Tree Music Festival, and Mountain Vibe Music Festival, touring from Southern California through the Pacific Northwest. Trianna said she is focused on making every show a celebration of rhythm, healing, and community.
Their debut full-length album, Jaded, has 10 original tracks accompanied by 10 cinematic music videos on YouTube, each exploring themes of life, resilience, love, loss, and transformation. Their musicianship has earned them a place in the High Sierra Music Festival Band Contest Semi-finals at Moe’s Alley. Stay tuned for the results!
Kat’s Creations
Striding in the footsteps of a cherished Santa Cruz legacy, Trianna is also principal artist and owner of Kat’s Creations Batiks, an artistic endeavor created by Courtney Antrim-Webb and her husband Aaron in 2016. The wife-husband team were woven into the fabric of the California festival circuit selling their hand-dyed batik clothing, tapestries, and hats at must-do summer gatherings like High Sierra, Santa Cruz Mountains SOL Fest, Redwood Mountain Faire, and Joshua Tree Music Festival. When Kat passed away in May of 2021, Trianna stepped up to help Aaron keep the business going. When Aaron suddenly passed in August of 2024, the family asked Trianna if she would take over considering her many years of learning the trade and supporting the effort. Trianna said at the time, “…as the new captain of this delightfully artistic ship I am so honored to be able to uphold this artistic legacy that is Kat’s Creations! With love the legacy lives on.”
Catch Trianna and The Heavy Hitters live at The Crepe Place on June 16th. New album “Jaded” available on all platforms.
triannaferuza.com | triandtheheavyhitters.com | IG @katscreationsbatiks
Featured photo: Trianna and The Heavy Hitters l to r: Ryan Ouse, Josh Baldwin, Trianna Feruza, Zach Latham
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