Mayer enrolled in the [[Berklee College of Music]] in [[Boston]], [[Massachusetts]], aged 19.<ref name=ELLE/> However, at the urging of his college friend an [[Atlanta, Georgia]] native, [[Clay Cook]], he left school after two semesters and moved with Cook to Atlanta.<ref name=Berklee>Small, Mark (2005). [http://www.berklee.edu/bt/172/coverstory.html "John Mayer '98: Running with the Big Dogs"] Berklee.edu. Retrieved April 23, 2007</ref> In Atlanta they formed a two-man band called LoFi Masters and began performing in local coffee houses and club venues such as [[Eddie's Attic]].<ref name=AskMen/> According to Cook, they began to experience musical differences due to Mayer’s desire to move more towards pop music.<ref name=MOA>Guthrie, Blake (2003). [http://atlanta.creativeloafing.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A14103 "Mayer of Atlanta: John Mayer plays Philips Arena, and all I got was this lousy cover story"] CreativeLoafing.com. Retrieved February 17, 2007</ref> As a result, the two parted ways, and Mayer embarked on a solo career.<ref name=Berklee/>
With the help of local producer and engineer Glenn Matullo, Mayer recorded the independent [[Extended play|EP]] ''[[Inside Wants Out]]''. Cook co-wrote many of the songs from the EP including Mayer's first commercial single release, "[[No Such Thing (John Mayer song)|No Such Thing]]".<ref name=MOA/> The EP includes eight songs with Mayer on lead vocals and guitars. However, Cook's only contribution was backing vocals on the song "Comfortable". For the opening track, "Back To You", a full band was enlisted, including the EP’s co-producer [[David LaBruyere|David "DeLa" LaBruyere]] on bass guitars.<ref name=MO>Alter, Gaby (2007) [http://mixonline.com/live/tourprofiles/audio_john_mayer_2/ "Tour Profile: John Mayer"] MixOline.com. Retrieved April 23, 2007</ref> Mayer and LaBruyere then began to perform throughout Georgia and nearby states.
