American gospel singer and award-winning gospel artist Israel Houghton together with the New Breed family shares a new song “Hymn of Breakthrough” ahead of his live album release on February 26.
“Hymn of Breakthrough” is a slow and brightly burning performance that finds Houghton leading a small group of band members, family, and friends in a meditative portrait of epiphany that digs its heels all the way in, savoring each step upwards towards its illustration of the “sound of breakthrough” that inspires it. The sense of family and unity at the center of the building performance is a testament not only to the legendary gospel artist’s storied, almost 25-year career, but the way he’s taken his community, his family, and his band to the top alongside him.
Israel also announces the pre-orders of his upcoming live album Feels Like Home: The Quarantine Worship Experience. The album, which will be released on February 26th, is derived from Israel & New Breed’s hugely successful live event of the same name last year which breathed electricity into the intimate #WorshipWednesdays setup for a three-hour concert/worship experience.
Feels Like Home was streamed live from Houghton’s sister-in-law’s house in New York last November with an impressive group of musicians both familiar and new to New Breed, all of whom agreed to quarantine and test for COVID-19 prior to gathering. Performing the entire show facing one another in a circle, the improvisatory looseness and sheer inspiration of the session is a warm and glowing reminder of the gospel’s intimate roots as a communal religious celebration and experience.
Watch the video below
“NewBreed celebrated our 20th year together in 2020,” Houghton explains. “Though the entire landscape changed with how we do concerts and touring, we knew it was still very important to come together. I’m grateful for the sacrifices made by everyone on our team to carefully come together and participate in this offering. Truth be told, it’s one of the most rewarding worship experiences I’ve ever been a part of.
