Ambar Ramirez
Words by Ambar Ramirez and Photos by Amiyah Golden
Every band has its origin story — and for Jacksonville’s own cold wave trio Glass Chapel, it all began brewing in 2022 at the Bold Bean in Jacksonville Beach. By day, frontman Jake Phillips was serving up matcha lattes and double shots of espresso; by night, he was lost in a haze of synth loops, carving out a solo sound under the name Falling Dots.
After a quick jam with another musician that didn’t quite stick, Phillips crossed paths with Angela Sitzler and Nick Phitides the current started humming. Like any good blend, it took a little time — and a few reconfigurations — to get the recipe just right. At first, Phillips picked up the guitar, Sitzler took on synth duties and Phitides laid down the bass. But the sound didn’t fully come together until a reshuffling brought everything into focus.
Phillips took over as lead vocalist, Phitides moved to guitar, and Sitzler started pulling double duty on synth and bass. The result? A moody, cinematic sound steeped in Cure-esque nostalgia — equal parts shadow and shimmer.
While Glass Chapel may have started as an idea from Phillips, it’s clear the band is anything but a solo effort. Instead, it’s a true team project with all three bringing their own strengths, ideas and creative energy to the table. From writing to arranging to experimenting with sound, everything is a collaborative process. Musically, they pull inspiration from bands like The Cure, Cold Cave and Soft Kill, but Glass Chapel has carved out a sound that feels completely their own.
For Phillips, inspiration often comes from everyday life.
“The last song we played was kind of inspired by ‘Twin Peaks’ from the theme song, which is music-related,” Phillips shared. “But, it was also kind of inspired by just all of us working full-time jobs, and this is what we’d rather be doing. Not be stuck inside a building.”
When Phitides isn’t playing guitar, he’s usually holding a paintbrush.
“I’m an oil painter, and I’m in a master’s program currently for that. So music and visual art, I think are pretty synthesized for me in my life,” Phitides expressed.
For Sitzler, music is more of a creative release—a chance to get lost in sound and experiment with mood.
“For me, I feel like I like that atmospheric, musical, weird instrument, kind of theremin-sounding full in the background type of thing,” Sitzler said. “So I watch a lot of videos about that type of stuff, and that kind of influences me when I play.”
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