Jennie calls 'Less than a Lover' a song born from 'summer's afterimage'

Blackpink's Jennie is back, channeling the languid mood of a midsummer night.

According to her agency OA Entertainment, Jennie released the single "Less than a Lover" — along with its music video — across global music platforms Friday at 1 p.m.

Co-written and co-composed by Jennie, "Less than a Lover" is a song shaped by the character of a season. Created with summer in mind, it explores the thrill and lingering warmth of a relationship that sits somewhere between lover and friend — neither one nor the other. The track is an alternative pop number built around lo-fi guitar riffs and a vintage electric keyboard, musically evoking the dreamy romance of a summer night.

The song had already drawn a strong response when Jennie performed it a cappella as a surprise at Poland's Open'er Festival. She described it at the time as "a song made while thinking of summer's afterimage," sending fan anticipation for the official release to a peak.

Jennie's artistic sensibility extended beyond the music to the visual side of the project, including directing the music video. Shot on location in Spain, the video alternates between crisp and languid imagery against an exotic backdrop, showcasing her distinctive creative vision as an artist.

Even before the release, the pre-save event on Spotify and Apple Music drew such a surge of global traffic that it temporarily caused system errors, underscoring the remarkable buzz surrounding the release.

Jennie currently holds the No. 5 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 and the No. 1 position on the Pop Airplay chart with "Dracula (JENNIE Remix)," her collaboration with Tame Impala.

Following the new release, Jennie is set to take the stage at major festivals including Lollapalooza Chicago in the United States and Summer Sonic 2026 in Japan, where she will meet fans around the world.