Phoenix was funded through the website Kickstarter and is the first album released independently by the Classic Crime.

Kickstarter backers were able to digitally download the album two weeks prior to its release date.

[4] By April 12, 2012, the end of the funding period, the project had received $86,278 in pledges from 1,981 backers.

[2] The band announced the title of the album on June 12, 2012 through its Facebook and Twitter page.

[5] Lead singer Matt MacDonald described the title, Phoenix, as cliche but symbolic, stating that hope for the future of the band is "back, it's different, you know?