Brian Hornfeldt 

Social Media Manager 

When it comes to local music in Greensboro, my mind immediately goes to Royal Jelly. I’ve had the pleasure of listening to the band perform on several occasions, both live and during rehearsals, and they know how to entertain through their spirited performances and funky tunes. 

Photo credit: Brian Hornfeldt 

I first heard Royal Jelly perform live at the Oden Brewing Spring Equinox Festival in 2023, where I was taking videos and photos for local company GSOVIBES. They were the final act, and although it was 8 p.m., and many of the patrons had been there since the event’s 10 a.m. start, their music instantly energized the crowd. I thoroughly enjoyed their performance, especially their uniquely appealing theatricality.   

I was fortunate enough to interview Chris Powell, one of Royal Jelly’s vocalists, about the band’s history and some of their career highlights.   

Can you tell me Royal Jelly’s origin story? How did the band as it is today come about?   

The complete origin story of Royal Jelly would take quite a while to tell, but in brief, most of the band is either related, dating, or met locally in the open jam scene. Royal Jelly is also an offshoot of an earlier project called The Charles Hanson Family Band. That project died for various reasons, but drummer Bob Powell, guitarist Miguel Noyola, and percussionist Pete Duff formed a new group under the Royal Jelly moniker. As things blossomed, we picked up another singer, Queen Bee, horn player Jordan Jones, percussionist Sandy Blocker, bassist Jonathan Sale, and synth player Jay Bird Beverly on Synth. We’re just your average 8- to 10-person band! We have a big, fun, funky vibe, and it’s always been the more the merrier. 

 
Photo credit: Royal Jelly 
 

Are all the original members still in the band?   

For the most part, yes. Sadly, a few members have moved on or away from the area; we were blessed to play with a UNCG alum, Jose Medrano, on bass for a while and David Thompson on guitar. Though they and original drummer Pete Duff are not in the band anymore, I still consider them family and keep an open door for them.   

How do you handle a band member’s departure?   

We have a “the show must go on” mentality, so as disruptive as losing a band member can be, we strive to keep creating and making great art with who we have. We’ve been super lucky that the next person involved has been tremendous every time someone has exited the band.  

Do you consider Royal Jelly a Greensboro-inspired band? Has the Greensboro community shaped or influenced the band’s direction?   

Greensboro is definitely home to our mothership. Most of our crew resides here, and most of our fans funk around here, but we also have roots in Durham, High Point, and Wilkes and Forsyth Counties. I get inspired by the crazy people I meet in this small city all the time, so I’m sure it permeates into the music.   

What is your favorite aspect of live shows? What’s your least favorite part?  

I’m a fan of the unscripted moments when the music is really grooving and moves into new territory. I enjoy finding my edge and experimenting with improvisation or freestyling. I also love spirited banter with the crowd and crowd surfing when possible. My least favorite moment is angry sound engineers.   

What’s your favorite song the band has written?   

My favorite changes all the time, but currently, I’m digging “Hey Man, Nice Trout!”   

How did that song come about?   

It’s based on a funny incident I had at the farmers market. A woman yelled at me in the parking lot, “Hey man, nice trout.” And I was kind of like, “What?” And she said, “Nice trout,” and pointed to a sticker on a car that wasn’t mine. It made me laugh like hell. I had to turn it into a fishy song.  

What is the band’s most popular song, and where did it originate?   

We have a song called “Cupcakes” that’s popular, and to be honest, it started with the hook. We were playing a show, and I just started yelling, “Let me see that booty sweat.” People had a great time with that, so I wrote a couple of verses around the hook, and it just came together.  

How would you define Royal Jelly’s sound? What bands or artists are your inspirations?  

I’ve heard people say we have a lot of energy. I’m not sure I could define it…we’re somewhere between funk, punk, disco, and rock. Sprinkle a fair amount of magic fairy dust on it, throw in some unicorns and giant teddy bears, and prepare for a wild-ass show. I’m constantly inspired, so the list grows, but I love the performances of James Brown, Jim Morrison, Bill Manspeaker, Nina Simone, Maynard, and Fela Kuti.  

What has been your favorite moment with the band?   

The sound check at Shakori Hills was ballistic. We had 1,200 people packed in a tent to get crazy with us. I was smacking a cowbell to get people excited. It was a great time.   

How do you push against boundaries in the music world?   

I don’t concern myself with boundaries or the way we may be perceived by whatever the music world is. We try to write great music, express ourselves completely and consciously without censorship, and share it with the world. In our world, there are no boundaries.  

What would you say to artists trying to make it in music?   

Enjoy the ride! No one on their deathbed has ever said, “I just wish I didn’t rock out with my band.” Go make some noise.  

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Royal Jelly is a cornerstone of the Greensboro local music scene. Their efforts to create and perform for themselves first is how they embody the heart of artistic expression. They create authentic work for the sake of creating and don’t tailor it to anyone else. Their music is best experienced live, as their performance’s energy adds something you can’t recreate on a recording. I haven’t seen a show where the crowd wasn’t dancing and shouting along to the songs.   

I want to thank Chris Powell for meeting with me and Royal Jelly for allowing me to write this piece. If you have never listened to their music, I highly recommend it, if for no other reason than to get more familiar with the local music scene. You can find Royal Jelly’s discography on Spotify and Apple Music and learn about their upcoming performances on their Instagram @royal_jelly_music.