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. Fans speculated that the man in the photo was Taiwanese model Nah Kai. 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." 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. A third teaser on July 20 showed the two running hand in hand through an open field. "Less than a Lover" is the first single from Jennie's first extended play, Fallen Angel (2026).
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. Jennie was creatively involved throughout the entire project and participated in the song's lyrics, musical production, and music video direction. Lyrically, the song explores the dynamics of a casual, seasonal romance that falls between friendship and a committed relationship. 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. The track marked a stylistic departure from the singer's previous performance-oriented releases.
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." The narrative follows a summer romance through scenes of road trips, coastal drives, and poolside moments. 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.
↑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.
