Jennie Drops Summer Anthem Less Than a Lover

Blackpink vocalist Jennie is keeping the momentum going with her latest solo release. “Less Than a Lover” just dropped via OddAtelier/Columbia Records, and it’s the ethereal summer track we didn’t know we needed.

The song explores that ambiguous space between friendship and romance, where feelings exist but labels don’t quite fit. On the track, Jennie croons over dreamy production: “It’s more than lust / It’s just enough / And all I want this summer / Is a little bit less than a lover.” It’s the kind of melody that gets stuck in your head precisely because it captures something so universally relatable yet somehow ineffable.

A Festival Moment Turned Studio Release

Jennie first teased the track during her Governors Ball headline set in New York City back in June. She accompanied it with a cinematic music video that perfectly complements the song’s otherworldly atmosphere. The visual storytelling amplifies what the lyrics already suggest: there’s beauty in uncertainty, and sometimes the in-between is exactly where the magic lives.

This release comes at an interesting moment in Jennie’s career. She’s been juggling both her solo ambitions and her responsibilities with Blackpink, something that few artists manage to balance effectively. Her solo work under her own Odd Atelier label has allowed her creative freedom while maintaining her group commitments.

Building on Solo Success

Last March, Jennie dropped Ruby, her debut solo EP. The 15-track project was packed with collaborations featuring heavy hitters like Childish Gambino, Dua Lipa, Dominic Fike, and Kali Uchis. It showed a different side of the artist, one willing to experiment and push boundaries beyond the Blackpink framework.

Since then, she reunited with Blackpink for a world tour and their latest album, Deadline, released in February. That project brought the group’s comeback single “Jump” and reaffirmed why Blackpink remains one of the most dominant forces in global pop music.

Summer Festival Season

But Jennie isn’t slowing down. She’s got an impressive festival lineup ahead. Later this month, she’ll headline Lollapalooza in Chicago, one of America’s most prestigious music festivals. Then in August, she’ll make her first-ever appearance at Summer Sonic Festival in Japan, expanding her live presence internationally.

It’s a smart move for an artist looking to establish herself as a credible solo act while maintaining her group identity. Festival appearances at this scale validate her as a draw beyond her Blackpink fame, which matters in an industry where longevity depends on building a diverse fanbase.

“Less Than a Lover” feels perfectly positioned for this moment. It’s radio-friendly enough for mainstream appeal yet sophisticated enough for listeners who appreciate nuanced songwriting. The track doesn’t scream summer anthem in an obvious way, but it’s exactly the kind of song that becomes the soundtrack to someone’s most meaningful moment during these warm months.

The song’s central conceit resonates particularly well right now. We live in an era where relationship definitions are increasingly fluid. Not everyone wants traditional labels, and not every meaningful connection fits neatly into boxes. Jennie’s willingness to celebrate that ambiguity through her music shows an artist maturing and becoming more willing to take subtle creative risks.

What makes “Less Than a Lover” stand out is its restraint. Jennie doesn’t oversell the emotion or complicate the production unnecessarily. Instead, she lets the vulnerability of the lyrics drive the narrative, supported by understated instrumentation that never overshadows the vocal performance. It’s the kind of song that demands repeated listens to fully appreciate.

As she continues building her solo catalog while managing group projects, Jennie is proving that artists don’t have to choose between collective and individual success anymore. Both can thrive simultaneously when handled with intention and artistry.

Source: Rolling Stone