I’ve interviewed a lot of people—authors, entrepreneurs, even a few music legends—but let me tell you something. From the moment Charnel Allen, also known as CHARNALIEN, opened her mouth, I felt it. Goosebumps. I was scrolling through her videos preparing for our conversation and immediately said to myself, “Oh, homegirl can sing sing.” Not the “I sing in the shower” kind (which I do), but the “I was born to do this and heaven gave me lungs to prove it” kind of singing.
When we connected, her energy was just as magnetic as her voice—bubbly, grounded, and full of heart. By the end of our convo, she was doing riffs with my name just for fun. She’s that kind of dope.
Charnel’s story begins in Chester, Pennsylvania, shaped deeply by the musical legacy of her late mother, Lena Allen—a powerhouse herself who sang throughout the tri-state area and became Charnel’s first vocal coach, mentor, and biggest inspiration. Her mother’s influence shows up in every note Charnel sings. “She made sure I was exposed to everything,” Charnel told me, explaining how she learned to harmonize with the hum of a vacuum cleaner and compose melodies to the ticking of a clock.
Now based in Charlotte, NC, Charnel’s voice has taken her around the world. She had the opportunity to sing background vocals during the Super Bowl XXIV and Super Bowl XXV performances of “Lift Every Voice and Sing”—also known as the Black National Anthem. She’s also sung background vocals for Fantasia at the TIME Magazine Awards, worked with K. Michelle, Mindless Behavior, and lent her voice to campaigns for BET, AT&T, ESPN, and more. But even with the accolades, she remains rooted.
On April 26, Charnel will hit the Got Soul stage at 5:15 p.m. accompanied by The Darrin Jackson Encounter, her go-to band for creating magic. Expect festival anthems and yes—maybe even a line dance with your boots and fans. “I want people to feel love, connection, freedom,” she told me. “I want it to feel like the best parts of home.”
And trust me: it will.
Charnel Allen’s performance at Got Soul is sponsored by Michael Londyn Realty Group.
