Singer-songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist Israel Portnoy has released ‘Feelin’ Good’, a country-gospel ballad that brings together an unusually wide constellation of voices, locations and traditions. Shaped by spiritual storytelling and collaborative writing, the track blends folk, soul, gospel and roots influences into a unified but deliberately human-centred recording.
The project features a cross-genre collaboration between Portnoy and Jewish country artist Joe Buchanan, alongside gospel vocalists drawn from Christian church communities across the United States and beyond. Contributors span multiple regions, including New York City, Nashville, Connecticut, Virginia, New Jersey, Texas, as well as international locations such as Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Germany. In total, more than ten musicians and vocalists appear across the final recording.
Portnoy, originally from Manchester and later based between Israel and the United States, has built a career around music that draws from Jewish tradition, introspection and cross-cultural collaboration. His previous work includes the solo debut album Facing Flames, written after the Mevo Modiin fires destroyed his home and years of recordings, and the 2025 release House of Prayer, which surpassed one million cross-platform streams in its first month. His forthcoming album Shalom continues that trajectory of spiritual and contemporary synthesis.
‘Feelin’ Good’ began as a song written by Robert L. Stark, founder and CEO of Stark Enterprises and a longtime friend and creative collaborator of Portnoy. Stark initially shared the composition with Portnoy, but the project quickly expanded beyond its original framework.
Deeply resonating with the song’s message, Portnoy took on production and arrangement duties, building the track from the ground up in his New York studio. As the recording developed, he also contributed additional writing and creative direction, transforming the piece from a songwriter-to-producer handoff into a more integrated partnership between both creators.
Recognising the song’s broader potential, Portnoy invited Buchanan into the project and assembled a diverse ensemble of musicians and gospel vocalists. The recording process reflects a transatlantic approach: bass and drums were tracked live in Nashville, while a three-voice gospel choir recorded in Portnoy’s studio in New York City.
At the centre of the track is a focus on self-worth and relational ethics, framed through spiritual language and biblical imagery. Portnoy emphasises the human foundation of the work, particularly in contrast to increasingly A.I. assisted production trends in contemporary music.
“We are taught to love others the way we love ourselves. But we aren’t taught to love ourselves. Our generation is in desperate need of self-acceptance. Only from that place will our unconditional love of the other take flight,” Portnoy said.
Musically, ‘Feelin’ Good’ leans into country-gospel and roots traditions, prioritising acoustic instrumentation, layered vocal harmonies and ensemble performance. Rather than smoothing voices into uniform production, the arrangement preserves individual contributions, reflecting the collaborative nature of its creation.
Portnoy’s broader career includes collaborations and shared stages with artists such as Idan Raichel, Alex Clare, Ivri Lider, Zusha, Moshav Band and Cardboard Foxes.
With ‘Feelin’ Good’, Portnoy extends his ongoing exploration of how spiritual tradition, identity and contemporary songwriting can intersect, this time through a recording that spans continents, communities and genres while remaining anchored in a simple thematic centre: self-acceptance as the basis for connection.
