BLACKPINK’s Jennie has officially locked in her next solo era. Her new single Less than a Lover, often tagged online as “Jennie Less than a Lover,” is dropping this week, turning the song US festival crowds have already heard live into her first fully self-led release of 2026.
For BLINKs who know high-energy bangers like Like Jennie and Mantra, Less than a Lover promises a softer lo fi summer mood about pausing a romance. With Jennie writing, producing and directing, fans are watching as she tests her independence under Odd Atelier.
Jennie Less than a Lover: release details and teaser story
Odd Atelier, also known as OA Entertainment, announced that Less than a Lover will be released on Friday, July 24, 2026 at 1 p.m. KST on major global streaming platforms. For US fans, that lands at 12 a.m. EDT on July 24.
Teaser photos show Jennie in a truck window with a man on the other side, framed by a quiet landscape for a cinematic road trip feel. Promotional text includes the line “The summer I chose to pause the love story,” suggesting a focus on emotional narrative rather than heavy choreography.
Key details for US BLINKs:
- Title: Jennie single Less than a Lover
- Release: July 24, 1 p.m. KST / 12 a.m. EDT
- Platforms: major global streaming services
From Like Jennie to a softer era: how it sounds
OA Entertainment describes Less than a Lover as a summer track built on lo fi guitar and vintage electric keyboard, with Jennie’s vocals kept restrained and mature. It is a clear shift from the punchy, performance-driven sound of earlier singles Like Jennie and Mantra.
For BLINKs, that points to less pure hype and more late night playlist energy. Crowds at Governors Ball, Roskilde, Open’er and Mad Cool already heard a dreamy, introspective side of Jennie that centers mood over power moves.
In 2025, Like Jennie spent two weeks at No. 1 on South Korea’s Circle Digital Chart, proving her solo reach beyond BLACKPINK. That history sets high expectations that this softer sound can still become one of the defining K pop singles of the summer.
What BLINKs can expect next from Jennie’s solo chapter
Jennie is not just the face of Less than a Lover. OA Entertainment confirms she took part in writing the lyrics, producing the track and directing the music video, shaping the overall project as a self-steered release under her own label.
She first premiered the single at the Governors Ball Music Festival in New York City, then brought it to Roskilde in Denmark, Open’er in Poland and Mad Cool in Spain. Clips from those stages spread quickly on TikTok and Instagram, so listeners already know the chorus.
Next, Jennie will take the song to Lollapalooza Chicago and Summer Sonic 2026 in Japan, cementing her as a solo festival draw. The agency has not said if Less than a Lover leads into a new album after 2025’s Ruby, so BLINKs are watching every move.