Mayer akafunga kusvetuka koreji kuti aite mimhanzi yake, asi vabereki vake vakamurambidza. Akanyoresa kuBerklee College of Music muna 1997 aine makore gumi nemapfumbamwe. Pakukurudzirwa neshamwari yake yekoreji Clay Cook, vakasiya Berklee mushure memasemester maviri ndokuenda kuAtlanta. Ikoko, vakaumba boka revarume vaviri rainzi LoFi Masters, uye vakatanga kuita mumabhawa emuno uye nzvimbo dzekirabhu dzakadai saEddie's Attic. Sekureva kwaCook, vakasangana nemisiyano yemimhanzi nekuda kwechido chaMayer chekuenda zvakanyanya kunziyo dzepop.
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