What did you like about Darren when you first met?

Daniel: I instantly thought it would be interesting to work with him. I liked his personality and his Input towards the songs and I thought he had a really nice voice. After being in different bands for about a year, we decided to write a couple of songs together on our own. That's how Savage Garden started.

How do you write songs together if Darren doesn't play any instruments?

Daniel: I'm his instrument! He would say, "Let's try that!" and hum something and I would put it into musical terms. For most of the time though, I'll conic up with music first. Darren is perhaps more the lyric man. I do what Darren can't do and Darren does what I can't do.

What can't you stand about Darren?

Daniel: Darren is rather compulsive in his manners, but he doesn't really annoy me. We have become used to each other because we spend so much time together. I suppose, in a way, we're like a married couple. Married people don't really annoy their partners as they are so used to each other.

How do you annoy Darren?

Daniel: He will say that I'm not quite as tolerant with certain people as he is. When I don't enjoy somebody's company I won't stay around just to be nice. I will just disappear - he thinks I'm cruel. But I want to be able to be free to choose my own circle of friends.

Do you go out partying when you're not working?

Daniel: We don't socialize with each other when we're not working. When we both have night off we each like to do our own thing. We both just need a little time to reset ourselves. Then we come back and continue to work as a team.

How do your parents feel about their son going into the music business?

Daniel: It was no problem! My parents have been really supportive, as have Darren's. We were told that we could do anything that we wanted to if we put our minds to It. Without my parents; I wouldn't be where I am today. They said to me, "Whatever you want is out there. If you want it. If you want to play soccer for Australia, go for it. If yon want to write hit songs, go for it." I wasn't quite sure which one I wanted to. My parents were fine with both. They weren't scared of me failing and that's a very positive thing. I owe them everything!

How do you deal with the fact that you are really popular at home in Australia but not recognized much anywhere else, like Europe?

Daniel: Well, we're free to wander around without being approached by fans all the time. That makes a nice change. In Australia, we can't go out without having to sign autographs for fans. I have very strong feelings about Europe because I actually was born in England. I moved to Australia when I was really young.

How do you cope with all your success?

Daniel: We don't go mad or anything. Of course we go out and party, but not everyday. This business puts a lot of pressure on you. You rise and fall in the public eye and it's easy to fall into drugs and stuff. A lot of people just mess everything up. But I'm pretty certain that Darren and I will stay together. We're doing something we love.

You play some old songs at your concerts- will you be recording any cover versions in the future?

Daniel: We play U2's "With Or Without You" and Michael Jackson's "Wanna Be starting Something" In our live performances. I wouldn't want to record a cover version of a song though because it's wasting energy when we've got so much to say ourselves. We may as well use our own words.

You perform their songs at your concerts so are they you favorite artists?

Daniel: I really respect U2. I like the way they have made their career Interesting. They have made changes at the right times. The transition they made from "Rattle And Hum" to "Achtung Baby' was mealy interesting. I also think that 'Pop" Is such a good album title..

What are you goals for the next year?

Daniel: Because so many people have said our music sounds European, we thought that Europe would be a great place for us to go. My goal is to be successful in Europe and give everybody there, a chance to listen to our music.

Daniel plays all the instruments, so what is your role when you write songs?

Darren: You don't need to play instrument to be creative In music. I generally write the melody and the lyrics. Daniel usually comes up with the instrumentals. That's the way it works. The melody always comes first. I carry a tape recorder around with me all the tune which l sing into. I have also got diaries in which I write down my dreams, love stories and poems. Then I have to fit seven pages of words into a three-minute song. Even though I don't play an Instrument, there are many ways to be creative.

Did it scare you in the beginning that Daniel had more experience than you?

Darren: No. When I met Daniel I didn't even know how to put up a mic-stand, but I could sing. I had two years of playing to two people or 200 people and that gave me the confidence I needed for the group. I've wanted to be a singer ever since I was 10. 1 didn't come from a musical family so I didn't really have anyone to encourage me. That was what he had and I could learn from that.

Is there anything about Daniel that annoys you?

Darren: Everybody has got his or her good points and bad points. Daniel has got wonderful good points. There are a few things that have caused some tension in the past. But it's the differences that make us work together. But we've been together for five years and we've only had three arguments. None of them have been about anything real..

What is it about you that would most annoy Daniel?

Darren: He would say that I am too emotional sometimes. Definitely!