Radio Freedom (band)
| Company type | Musical group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1 November 1991 in Sydney, Australia |
| Defunct | 1994 |
| Headquarters | Sydney , Australia |
Key people | Brett "True" O'Hara, Paul "Pehl" Snashall, Ralph Alvaro |
| Products | Music albums and singles |
Radio Freedom was a dance music ensemble from Australia that gained prominence in the early 1990s, notably with their top ten hit "I Can Feel It" released in 1992. The lineup featured Paul "Pehl" Snashall, Brett "True" O'Hara, and Ralph Alvaro. They served as a supporting act for Elton John's 1993 Australian tour and issued their album Beyond the Peach Tree prior to dissolving in 1994.
History
Originating in Sydney in November 1991, Radio Freedom initially consisted of a duo: Brett "True" O'Hara handling turntables, and Paul "Pehl" Snashall providing vocals as well as playing guitar and keyboards. O'Hara was established as a local DJ, while Snashall brought an audio engineering background alongside experience in grunge and pop groups. Their first single, "I Can Feel It," launched on 18 May 1992, climbed to No. 7 on the ARIA Singles Chart. Crafted collaboratively by O'Hara, Snashall, and Miguel Montoya, this track fused elements of '90s funk with Latin salsa rhythms. The song received additional exposure through its inclusion in the television series E Street, which was connected to their label Westside Records via Westside Television Productions.
The follow-up single, "Proove," arrived in August 1992 and reached No. 30 on the charts; it was written by O'Hara and Snashall. In February 1993, they issued a rendition of Bob Marley's "Is This Love." Early that same year, Radio Freedom opened for Elton John's tour across Australia. However, John later informed Snashall that Westside Records had obstructed the band's opportunity to join him on international legs of the tour due to financial difficulties faced by the label.
Their debut album Beyond the Peach Tree experienced delays before its release in November 1993. By this time, Ralph Alvaro had been added as lead guitarist. The album garnered modest critical reception, described as "fairly groovy" though lacking depth. The group ultimately disbanded in 1994.
In June 2022, Snashall reflected on the obstacles encountered with Westside Records during an episode of the podcast A Journey Through Aussie Pop, emphasizing how these label complications hindered their career progress.
Members
- Brett "True" O'Hara – turntables, scratching, looping
- Paul "Pehl" Snashall – lead vocals, guitar, keyboards
- Ralph Alvaro – lead guitar
Albums
| Title | Information |
|---|---|
| Beyond the Peach Tree |
|
Singles
| Title | Year | Australia | Certifications | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "I Can Feel It" | 1992 | 7 |
|
Beyond the Peach Tree |
| "Proove" | 30 | |||
| "Is This Love" | 1993 | 51 | ||
| "Edge of the World (Love Storm)" | — |