By Azzam Bilal 
HangupsMusic.com – Ibiza, The electronic music industry is often characterized by its relentless energy, neon lights, and the escapism of the dance floor. However, the latest release from Spanish powerhouse B Jones serves as a stark, beautiful reminder that the creators behind the decks are human beings navigating the same profound challenges as their audience. With the release of her new single, “Side Effects,” B Jones has moved beyond the traditional boundaries of a club track to deliver what is being hailed as the most intimate and vulnerable work of her storied career. Issued through her own Arryba Music label, the song is not merely a creative output but a sonic testament to her ongoing battle with lymphatic cancer, a journey that began with a shocking diagnosis earlier this year.
In early January, the electronic music community was shaken when B Jones, born Beatriz Martínez, took to social media to share a deeply personal update. After two months of navigating a series of debilitating and unexplained symptoms, medical professionals discovered a tumor on her spinal cord. Subsequent testing confirmed a diagnosis of lymphatic cancer. For an artist whose life is defined by movement, travel, and the high-octane environment of international festivals, the news was a jarring pivot. Yet, from the moment of her announcement, Jones signaled that she would not let the illness dictate her narrative. Instead, she chose to integrate her struggle into her art, using the creative process as a mechanism for survival and transformation.
“Side Effects” was birthed in the most unlikely of recording studios: the sterilized environment of a hospital room during the artist’s first cycle of chemotherapy. The track serves as a direct reflection of the physical and psychological toll of her treatment. Chemotherapy is a grueling process that often leaves patients feeling disconnected from their own bodies, and Jones captures this sense of alienation with haunting precision. In her public communications regarding the track, she described the song as being born within "four walls" amidst intense pain and the disorienting "side effects" that can make a person feel like a stranger to themselves. The production reflects this duality, balancing the driving rhythms that have made her a global star with a newfound depth of emotional resonance.
The release of “Side Effects” follows closely on the heels of her previous single, “Glow Up,” which was released via Black Hole Recordings. The contrast between the two tracks illustrates the rapid shift in Jones’s life. While “Glow Up” embodied the triumphant, high-energy spirit of a DJ at the peak of her powers, “Side Effects” finds power in vulnerability. It is a transition from the external celebration of the festival stage to the internal fortitude required to face a life-threatening diagnosis. By releasing the track on Arryba Music, Jones maintains total creative control, ensuring that the message of the song remains uncompromised by commercial expectations.
For over a decade, B Jones has been a formidable force in the electronic music scene, particularly within the realms of house, electro, and trance. Her career trajectory is one of steady, earned ascension. She has long been a fixture of the Ibiza club circuit, a proving ground where only the most versatile and technically gifted DJs survive. Her ability to read a crowd and deliver high-energy sets eventually propelled her onto the world stage. She made history as the first Spanish artist to perform on the prestigious Tomorrowland mainstage, a milestone that solidified her status as a pioneer for Spanish electronic music on a global scale. Her resume includes performances at nearly every major festival in the world, from the sprawling grounds of EDC Mexico and Creamfields to Lollapalooza Berlin and UNTOLD in Romania.
Beyond her prowess behind the decks, Jones has built a reputation as a prolific producer and a savvy label head. Her discography includes releases on some of the industry’s most influential labels, such as Armada Music, Spinnin’ Records, and Tomorrowland Music. Her collaborative spirit has seen her work alongside EDM titans like Steve Aoki, Alok, and the Australian duo NERVO. These partnerships have helped her bridge the gap between underground house sensibilities and the massive, melodic appeal of mainstream dance music. Throughout these high-profile successes, she remained committed to her roots, founding Arryba Music specifically to provide a platform for Spanish-speaking producers who might otherwise struggle to find a foothold in an industry often dominated by English-speaking markets.
The diagnosis of lymphatic cancer and the subsequent spinal cord tumor have added a new layer of meaning to her role as a community leader. Jones has been remarkably transparent with her followers, providing regular updates from her hospital bed and during her recovery periods. This transparency is not an act of seeking sympathy, but rather an act of solidarity. In her statements, she has emphasized that she does not want her digital space or her "family" of fans to "live in illness." Instead, she advocates for a philosophy of "living in the fight." By documenting the "incredibly difficult days" alongside her musical progress, she provides a roadmap for resilience that resonates far beyond the electronic music community.
The lyrical and thematic core of “Side Effects” revolves around the concept of "turning pain into light." In the world of electronic music, where tracks are often designed for fleeting moments of euphoria, Jones has created something with lasting weight. She describes music as her way of transforming suffering into something that "unites us." This sense of unity is a recurring theme in her career, but it has taken on a more literal meaning as she navigates her treatment. The track is an invitation for listeners to find strength in their own struggles, using the beat as a pulse of defiance against the obstacles life throws in their path.
As she continues her treatment, Jones remains steadfast in her commitment to her label and her craft. In a recent video shared with her audience, she reflected on how unexpected obstacles can reveal a person’s true strength. She expressed an even greater "eagerness" to grow Arryba Music and to support other artists, viewing her label not just as a business, but as a community of mutual support. This altruistic approach during a time of personal crisis has further endeared her to the global dance music scene, drawing messages of support from fans and fellow artists alike.
“Side Effects” is more than just a new entry in a discography; it is a landmark moment in the intersection of life and art. It acknowledges that even the most difficult stories have their own "effects," and that those effects can be harnessed to create something beautiful. As the track makes its way into the playlists of fans and the sets of fellow DJs, it carries with it the spirit of a woman who refuses to be silenced by her circumstances. B Jones has always been known for her energy, but through “Side Effects,” she has proven that her true power lies in her heart.
The single, out now on Arryba Music, marks the beginning of a new chapter for the artist—one defined not by the diagnosis she received in January, but by the music she has created in response to it. As she continues to fight, B Jones stands as a beacon of hope, reminding the world that while illness is a part of life, it does not have to be the end of the dream. Through the "four walls" of her treatment, she has found a way to reach the entire world, proving once again that music is the ultimate healing force.