Jennie's 'Less than a Lover' Drops Today — The Heart-Sticker Mystery Man Is Taiwanese Model Kai
Jennie's new solo single "Less than a Lover" arrives today, July 24, at 1 p.m. KST, with the track and music video released simultaneously. The curiosity that began with a single Polaroid posted to Instagram on July 18 finally gets its resolution a week later. The Face Behind the Heart Sticker: Taiwanese Model Kai The biggest talking point was, of course, the identity of the man in the photo. Jennie was resting her head on his shoulder, his face obscured by a heart-shaped sticker, and the internet went back and forth over whether it was a relationship reveal or a music teaser. The answer came on July 21, alongside the teaser poster. He's Kai, a Taiwanese model based in Korea . Born in 2002, he's a rising name in fashion known for his natural curls and vintage styling. He has modeled for the Korean brand Low Classic and appeared in the music video for "Blue" by DxS, the SEVENTEEN unit of DK and Seungkwan — so some may already recognize him. In the end, that Polaroid wasn't a relationship announcement but the opening move of a very well-constructed promotional rollout. Shot in Spain, Framed Like a Coming-of-Age Film The music video was filmed in Spain. Even the preview clips released ahead of the drop establish the mood clearly. In a TikTok posted on July 22, the two stand side by side on a dead-straight dirt road. Jennie murmurs the lyrics into the camera before taking Kai's hand and breaking into a run. Her white sleeveless top and blue shorts against the green fields looked like a still from a coming-of-age film. Fans immediately called it prime couple-challenge material. The clips released on July 23 are warmer still. The two sit together on a beach watching the sunset; Jennie peels an orange and hands it over, and Kai takes it as naturally as anything. A follow-up TikTok showed them aboard a classic yacht out on the water. That Ambiguous Space Between Lover and Friend Jennie participated in both writing and composing the track, and directed the music video herself — her first time directing, which makes it a notable credit. The song's emotional territory is right there in the title: the space where calling someone a lover doesn't quite fit, but calling them a friend means a line has already been crossed. It renders the flutter and lingering afterglow of that in-between through a distinctly summery lens. Lo-fi guitar and vintage electric keyboard build a languid texture, topped with noticeably more grounded vocals. It's a clear turn from the performance-forward singles like "Mantra" and "like JENNIE." Battle-Tested at Festivals First The track was already well known before its official release. Jennie first performed it at the Governors Ball Music Festival in the U.S. in June, then brought it back at major overseas stages including Denmark's Roskilde Festival and Spain's Mad Cool Festival. Clips spread organically across TikTok and Reels, demand for a studio version piled up, and the official release followed. Approaching a Decade Since Debut Born in 1996, Jennie debuted with BLACKPINK on August 8, 2016. That makes this coming August 8 the group's tenth anniversary. She launched her solo career with the 2018 single "SOLO," and in 2023 her first acting project aired, broadening her range. Last March, she released her first full-length album, "Ruby." With a summer song arriving just ahead of that ten-year mark, this release carries several layers of meaning. Next month brings Lollapalooza Chicago in the U.S. and Summer Sonic 2026 in Japan. It's easy to picture the festival crowds singing this one right back to her.
Read more →