Shenseea bridges dancehall and kpop with new collab with Twice's Jihyo

Years after revealing she's half Korean, dancehall star Shenseea is taking one of her biggest steps yet in embracing that side of her identity, teaming up with K-pop powerhouse JIHYO of global girl group TWICE for their new single, Distant Lover.

Released today, the cross-cultural collaboration blends K-pop, dancehall and Afrobeats into what is being billed as a summer anthem, while marking another milestone in Shenseea's ongoing journey of reconnecting with her Korean heritage.

For the Jamaican hitmaker, whose father is South Korean and mother is Jamaican, the collaboration carries added significance.

In a TikTok video shared last year, Shenseea proudly confirmed that she is half Korean, telling fans that her father is fully Korean.

Although born and raised in Jamaica, the singer has previously spoken candidly about never meeting her father and growing up without a relationship with him.

Now 29, however, Shenseea says she's ready to embrace the part of herself she once had little time to explore.

Speaking in an interview last year, she admitted that during the early years of her career, which began when she was just 19, her focus was simply on building her career.

"I was more focused on getting the bag," she said.

But as her career has flourished, the Hit & Run deejay says her priorities have shifted.

"The more I grow, the more I need to know about myself," she shared, adding, "Now that I'm 29, I want to know what's new. This is the side of me that's new."

Over the past year, Shenseea has been documenting that journey with fans, visiting Korean markets, sampling traditional cuisine and learning more about the culture connected to her late father's family.

Her collaboration with JIHYO now represents the most high-profile expression of that exploration.

Released through FANDOM, a fan-owned music project launched by Musicow in partnership with Roc Nation Distribution, Distant Lover explores the highs and lows of modern-day "situationships."

JIHYO's soulful vocals are paired with Shenseea's unmistakable dancehall delivery over a track infused with K-pop, Afrobeats and Caribbean influences.

The song arrived alongside an official music video on Friday, featuring vibrant visuals, choreography and both performers sharing the spotlight.

For Shenseea, the collaboration is more than just another international feature. It represents another chapter in a personal journey of self-discovery—one that is allowing her to connect with a heritage she says she's only now beginning to fully embrace.

We want to hear from you! Email us at star@gleanerjm.com and follow @thejamaicastar on Instagram and on X @JamaicaStar and on Facebook: @TheJamaicaStar, or on Whatsapp @ 876-550-2506.