Camp Crush is a synth-pop duo based in Portland, OR, paying homage to both nostalgic New Wave and current day synth infused pop. Formed in 2017 by singer/songwriter/keyboardist Jen Deale and drummer Chris Spicer, the husband-and-wife band launched onto the northwest music scene with their vocal-forward synth-rich pop tunes and dynamic live performance. Happy Mag describes them best: “The duo glide through a cinematic brand of indie-pop that is completely endearing and damn-near mesmerizing.”
Bite the Bullet, the sophomore LP from Camp Crush, comes on the heels of their recently released debut record in April 2025. “It felt so good to write these songs and just take them directly into the studio. We knew we had a little bit of magic in the bottle with these songs and didn’t want to wait to get them out into the world,” Deale says of the quick turn around between records. Working with producer, Cameron Spies (Radiation City, Smokey Brights, Night Heron) and mixing engineer, Troy Welstad (Pink, Hilary Duff, Selena Gomez, A Fine Frenzy), the duo aimed to write a darker and dancier record. “Cameron and Troy are really the dream team for these songs. Cameron brought such incredible knowledge of dance beats and bass lines to make the vision come to life and Troy, with all of his pop sensibilities, helped us maintain that tight pop production sound,” says Spicer of the production process.
Reckless Phase, the first single off of Bite the Bullet, releases on February 6, 2026. “The whole record really reflects my journey through my religious upbringing into finding my freedom and identity as a woman. Reckless Phase is the perfect first single because it sets the tone. Dark synth, heavy dance vibes, and we really focused on bringing incredible vintage synth tones into this song. I can’t wait for the world to hear it,” Jen says.
Inspired by bands like Depeche Mode, Madonna, Berlin, and Blondie, the duo continues to evolve, bridging influences of the past and modern day pop sounds. OPB Music says, “Deale’s booming voice carries the songs while Spicer provides the perfect, steady backbeat, and they exude genuine happiness during every song.”
Jen Deale // Synth, Keys, Vocals
Chris Spicer // Drums, Vocals