"Less Than a Lover" is a song by South Korean singer and rapper Jennie. It was released through Odd Atelier and Columbia Records on July 24, 2026, as the lead single from her first extended play, Fallen Angel (2026). Jennie wrote the song alongside Tyler Spry, Cashmere Cat, Deborah Jung, Bibi Bourelly and Jelli Dorman, with the former two handling the production. It is an alternative popballad featuring restrained vocals over a lo-fi guitar and vintage electric keyboards, with lyrics about a casual, seasonal romance.
"Less Than a Lover" topped charts in Hong Kong and Taiwan and reached the top ten in Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. It also peaked at number 17 on South Korea's Circle Digital Chart and number 29 on the Billboard Global 200. An accompanying music video was directed by Choeey and released on Jennie's YouTube channel simultaneously with the single's release. Filmed in Girona, Spain, the video incorporates a cinematic narrative structure and depicts the singer in a summer romance with Taiwan-born model Nah Kai. Jennie promoted the single with performances at the Governors Ball Music Festival, Roskilde Festival, Open'er Festival, Mad Cool, Lollapalooza, and Summer Sonic Festival.
Background and release
On July 18, Jennie posted a Polaroid photo on social media of herself wearing a bright floral dress and leaning on a man's shoulder, with the man's face obscured by a heart emoji.[1] Fans speculated that the man in the photo was Taiwanese model Nah Kai.[2] Shortly afterwards, she announced the single "Less Than a Lover" with a romantic teaser showing the silhouettes of a couple under an arched tunnel in a European alley. The poster credited Jennie as the project's director, writer, and music producer and was captioned "The summer I chose to pause the love story."[3] On July 20, she confirmed the single's release date with a second teaser image depicting Jennie outside a pickup truck with a man, revealed to be Nah Kai.[4] A third teaser on July 20 showed the two running hand in hand through an open field.[5] "Less than a Lover" is the first single from Jennie's first extended play, Fallen Angel (2026).[6][7]
Composition and lyrics
"Less than a Lover" is a "softer, more introspective" alternative popballad featuring restrained vocals over a lo-fi guitar, vintage electric keyboards and "dreamy, laid-back" instrumentation.[8][9][10] Jennie was creatively involved throughout the entire project and participated in the song's lyrics, musical production, and music video direction.[11] Lyrically, the song explores the dynamics of a casual, seasonal romance that falls between friendship and a committed relationship.[12] Through lines such as "More than a friend, but less than a lover" the singer establishes clear boundaries, expressing a desire for a low-pressure, temporary connection.[8] The track marked a stylistic departure from the singer's previous performance-oriented releases.[13]
Directed by Choeey, the song's music video was filmed in Girona, Spain and incorporates a cinematic narrative structure, with Jennie credited as both writer and narrator. The visual also stars the Taiwan-born model Nah Kai. Shot with a muted color palette and intimate camera angles, the visual begins with a spoken intro outlining a script about avoiding long-term romantic responsibility: "So I want a film about a girl. She wants to avoid love, wants to avoid responsibilities. She’s very confused, but also knows what she wants - just to enjoy summer."[10] The narrative follows a summer romance through scenes of road trips, coastal drives, and poolside moments.[8] The video ends with a scene on the beach described through a short voiceover. Just as the two characters are about to kiss, Jennie backs away, choosing to keep the relationship casual.[10]
↑Lee, Jae-hoon (July 19, 2026). 제니, 의문의 남성과 투샷[Jennie, two-shot with a mysterious man] (in Korean). Newsis. Archived from the original on July 20, 2026. Retrieved July 19, 2026.
↑Kang, Ju-il (July 19, 2026). 제니 하트 스티커 그 남자, 대만 모델 나 카이설 '솔솔'[Jennie Heart sticker: Rumors swirling about the man—Taiwanese model Nah Kai.]. Kyunghyang Shinmun (in Korean). Archived from the original on July 20, 2026. Retrieved July 20, 2026.
↑Gibeum, Oh (July 20, 2026). 로맨틱한 분위기가 가득한 제니의 새 프로젝트[Jennie's new project filled with a romantic atmosphere]. Vogue Korea. Archived from the original on July 20, 2026. Retrieved July 20, 2026.
↑Kim, Soo-hyung (July 22, 2026). 제니의 그 남자, 정체 밝혀졌다...'신곡' 떡밥=컴백 예고[The identity of Jennie's mystery man revealed... 'New song' teaser hints at a comeback.]. The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). Archived from the original on July 21, 2026. Retrieved July 22, 2026.
↑Park, Soo-jung (August 6, 2026). 제니, 방송 출연 없이 2주 연속 '엠카' 1위[셀럽캡처][Jennie tops 'M Countdown' for two consecutive weeks without appearing on TV [Celebrity Capture]]. Celuv Media (in Korean). Archived from the original on August 6, 2026. Retrieved August 6, 2026– via Naver.
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