Directly translated Leomile Motsetsela's name means "dry". But there's never a dry moment with the musician, not in her music nor in her conversation.
"As far as I know, it comes from the phrase Leomile letolo, which means 'the thunder is dry' ... It was said to explain the state of drought, and yet somehow I feel like the antithesis of drought. Things exist in binaries though so I think my name speaks of the coming of rain. Further research under way," says Motsetsela.
Now 25, she studied writing and directing for a year at AFDA, then switched courses and graduated in performance.
Motsetsela, who is from Thetsane West in Maseru, says people tend to try to put her in boxes after listening to her music, expecting her to meet their standards of what an acceptable African woman is. "When I really might just turn around and twerk. I'm not as politically correct as I seem."
Motsetsela sings truth, her truth, but subtly delivers it to the listener without being confrontational. She's neither a modern Simphiwe Dana nor a Zamajobe - though she shares a physical and musical resemblance with the latter. Motsetsela is her own person and artist.
So what does she call her music?
"I prefer to call it the 'new gospel' in that I find it very introspective and honest but alas, the boxes await me. It's urban African soul with jazz influences and an edge."
Just less than a year ago in September she released her debut album, Pula Molomo. The track Mamela reveals her sensitivity.
"It's about our relationship to ourselves and how, when it is unhealthy, it is reflected back to us through our romantic relationships with others. So particularly unworthiness, and how we find ourselves then sabotaging good, stable relationships because we have a core belief that we aren't worthy of the relationship," she says.
WATCH: Leomile Motsetsela talks about the evolution of her unique sound..