So, too, has Graeme Woller, though the Invercargill-based musician, the other half of the Southern duo, grew up in a household that was more attuned to the sounds of country and western.
Regardless of their backgrounds, McBride and Woller have plenty of shared experience. After meeting in Invercargill nine years ago, they spent the following years working on a variety of music, and played covers at gigs ranging from corporate functions to weddings to markets. Though they had a ''lot of fun'' and regularly secured bookings in various Southland venues, the pair decided to focus on their own songs in 2010.
''We are both very headstrong people so making the decision to go original was easy,'' says McBride, who moved from Invercargill to Wanaka last year for ''lifestyle reasons'', including her husband finding a job in the township. The couple have two young sons. Woller has also been on the move. He and his wife headed to Byron Bay in 2011, but have since returned to Invercargill.
''When Graeme went to Australia, I went over for a couple of weeks to see if we could do some songwriting together. We brought some older material to the table and reworked it. A sound developed and we decided to pursue a new direction,'' McBride explains.
''We had both released EPs made in our living rooms but this is the first studio album we've really taken the time to put together.''
Due to be released on May 24, Fight From The Inside is a good example of can-do attitude. Into The East used the Pledge Me website to finance the album's production and distribution, enticing potential pledgers with song downloads (from $5), a dozen cheese rolls ($10) and even personalised concerts ($1000).
''We did a Pledge Me campaign for 35 days. We got about 10 days in and had enough money by that stage for mastering, replication and distribution,'' McBride said, adding the duo has also had support from businesses in Southland, Otago and further afield.
Produced over a 15-month period - in spaces as diverse as an Invercargill radio station, a park and even McBride's wardrobe - Fight From The Inside was recorded using just a small audio interface and a computer.
''I think that forced us to be creative,'' McBride said.
''There are some incidental sounds in the background sometimes. Graeme worked his butt off making sure each track had its own sound but that the album was cohesive.''
Woller said rather than relying on heaps of recording equipment gear, Into The East instead focused on more important aspects, such as the strength of each song, lyricism and imparting a sense of warmth while maintaining clarity.
''That becomes an interesting balancing act in the arrangement, recording and mixing phases. If you want to hear some crystal-clear recording, check out Paper Airplane by Alison Krauss & Union Station. They got a Grammy for a reason.
''We didn't have the luxury of many microphones, many recording inputs, good instruments or much time in the same place. It got a little better in the last couple of weeks when Little Fire Studio in Invercargill sponsored us time in their studio. That meant I could put six microphones on the drum kit. Man, that was a sweet moment,'' he enthused.
Woller describes Into the East as an exercise in musicology. His point is taken: Fight From The Inside might touch on the tonality of American folk and country courtesy of acoustic guitars, close harmonies and dobro slide flourishes, but there are also Celtic elements (Mullum), poppier moments (Pull Me Inside) and even a Queen-like vocal on closing track Perfect Storm.
''This album is not set in one genre, and no individual song on Fight From The Inside is pure in that sense. It's the eclectic diversity of what we listen to that makes us passionate about music and that's what we draw on when writing songs,'' Woller explained.
McBride added she and Woller also attempted to maintain a strong story through the album - ''of running from things, denying problems, right through to realising you can fix things yourself'', adding that, at 27 and 36 respectively, the pair have experienced a lot of life.
''We are both still young, but we both entered into marriage very early to other beautiful people. We both have children. A few of the tracks reflect our own journeys.''
In McBride's case, that includes a Southland childhood during which she was sometimes lulled to sleep by musical soundtracks.
''My natural ear comes from my mum, who would play instruments by ear. She also had a karaoke machine so instead of playing video games we'd do karaoke. I had two hits - Angel Of The Morning and It's My Party And I'll Cry If I Want To.
''As a teenager I thought being on stage was what I wanted to do but I struggled with shyness. That's where the album title Fight From The Inside comes from. It's about battling your shyness,'' she said.
Catch them
Into The East's debut album, Fight From The Inside, is due to be released on May 24. The duo will hold a launch party at the Southland Musicians' Club, Invercargill, on May 22.
Other dates in the South include: LaLa Land, Wanaka, May 23; Geraldine Cinema, May 31; Gore, June 1 (as guests at the Freeze Ya Bits Off busking competition); Whitestone Folk Festival, Waimate, June 2.
