Intro to Music Theory is the musical collaboration between trumpet player Matthew Busch and trombone player Matt Waters. Don’t let their musical alias deceive you though; their knowledge of music and list of credentials are so much more than just an intro.
Originally from Orange County and San Diago, the pair met over a decade ago, playing music and marching in the Drum and Bugle Corps together. On the completion of their Masters Degrees at respective universities, the pair submerged themselves in all aspects of music, playing shows and teaching music over Vegas and Los Angeles, before being offered an opportunity to assist the opening of the brass department at a new University in China. So in 2017, they packed their bags, grabbed their instruments and relocated halfway across the world to an island called Hainan.
Intro to Music Theory began shortly after the formation of their music businesses, Unchained Music and Hidden Records. Finding some free time in between teaching, Busch and Waters began travelling around Asia, helping organise music-focused events at prestigious locations like the Ritz Carlton, as well as DJing on the island of Koh Tao in Thailand. Unbeknown to them, the rumblings of fear surrounding the pandemic began to ignite, forcing China to close their borders, and the pair to return home to Southern California, subsequently resulting in the creation of the Intro to Music Theory Project.
Their new track “It’s An Attitude” is the product of a lot of experimentation, blending together Deep, Organic, Old School and Nu-disco House. Revealing where it all started, the musicians explained, “it began with the snare rhythm you hear at the beginning of the track, an homage to the great old school House greats creating rhythms on drum machines. The rest of the track grew organically, from the trombone choir harmony, to the trumpet calls and the final trumpet melody.” Trying out a lot of different styles and honing in on their production and mixing skills, the track whirls with funky, groove-driven beats, layered amongst an energetic buzz of trumpet and trombone. Previously described as "rooftop house," the music acts as the perfect backdrop for warm summer evenings dancing with friends, with the pair expressing, “We believe music is an amazing way to make new memories and shared experiences with others, and our goal is to spread positivity and good vibes.”
