JENNIE of BLACKPINK released her new solo single “Less than a Lover” at 1 p.m. KST on Friday, July 24, dropping the track simultaneously worldwide across streaming platforms alongside a music video she directed herself. The release comes through her label ODDATELIER (OA Entertainment), which described the song as an alternative pop track “written while thinking of summer.”
A Summer Song JENNIE Wrote Herself
“Less than a Lover” leans into a hazy, late-summer mood. According to the label’s release notes, the track is built on lo-fi guitar and vintage electric keyboard sounds, creating a languid, sun-warmed texture that sets it apart from the harder-edged singles of her recent run. Lyrically, the song captures the flutter and lingering aftertaste of a relationship that sits somewhere in between — with someone who is not quite a lover, but more than a friend.
JENNIE took part in both the lyrics and the composition, continuing the hands-on creative direction she has emphasized since launching her own label. The single arrives as a standalone summer release rather than part of a larger album rollout, positioning it as a seasonal gift for fans in the middle of her festival-heavy 2026 schedule.
Self-Directed Music Video Shot in Spain
The accompanying music video premiered on JENNIE’s official YouTube channel at the same 1 p.m. KST release time. Notably, JENNIE directed the video herself, with filming taking place in Spain. The Mediterranean setting matches the single’s summer-romance concept, and the self-directed credit marks another step in her expanding control over her visual output as well as her music.
From Festival Stages to the Charts
Fans had already gotten an early taste of the song live: JENNIE debuted “Less than a Lover” on stage at Open’er Festival in Poland earlier this summer, weeks before the studio version was announced. The live preview fueled anticipation online — teaser content for the single topped real-time social media trends this week, and according to the label, pre-save pages on Spotify and Apple Music briefly buckled under user traffic ahead of release.
The single also lands while JENNIE is riding one of the strongest chart runs of her solo career. Her collaboration with Tame Impala, “Dracula,” recently reached No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 — a career-high placement she has now held across multiple tracking weeks.
What’s Next for JENNIE
The release kicks off a busy stretch of international festival appearances. JENNIE is scheduled to perform at Lollapalooza in Chicago and at Summer Sonic 2026 in Japan later this season, giving “Less than a Lover” an immediate runway of major live stages. Whether the summer single becomes a fixture of those setlists — and how quickly it climbs streaming charts in its first tracking week — will be the storylines to watch over the coming days.
FAQ
When did JENNIE release “Less than a Lover”?
The single was released worldwide on Friday, July 24, 2026 at 1 p.m. KST (12 a.m. ET / 9 p.m. PT on July 23), with the music video premiering at the same time on her official YouTube channel.
Did JENNIE write and direct “Less than a Lover” herself?
Yes. JENNIE participated in writing the lyrics and composing the track, and she also directed the music video, which was filmed in Spain.
Where will JENNIE perform next?
JENNIE is set to appear at Lollapalooza in Chicago and Summer Sonic 2026 in Japan, after debuting the new song live at Poland’s Open’er Festival earlier this summer.
Source attribution: Release details via ODDATELIER (OA Entertainment) press materials as reported by Star News and Ten Asia; chart figures via Billboard.
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