Today we’d like to introduce you to Ciara Belle.
Hi Ciara, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m an artist, technologist, and bookworm. For my day job, I am a software development consultant contracted with Major League Baseball working on their Android streaming platforms including mobile, TV, and cars. Outside of MLB, I create music including playing bass for Courtland Johnson, draw comics, photograph live events, build cyberdecks, and study consciousness, physics, and history.
Everything I create is aimed at self-reflection and giving myself and others a better understanding of reality.
I grew up in Washington, DC. I’m 35 and was born October, Friday the 13th during a full moon, an hour before sunset. My mom passed 2 days after my 24th birthday. She was also an artist and technologist. Before I was born, she was a digital electronics technician. She taught me binary code and electronic circuits for my science fair projects, which helped me place in nation-wide science fairs from elementary to high school. She also taught me how to draw. She taught interpretive dance at either her middle or high school, and I often found her dancing and singing to music in the house first thing in the morning. I also love to dance.
I was in the DC Youth Orchestra from age 8–12 playing the viola. I was really good — 1st or 2nd chair — but I stopped because after having surgery to correct my hearing, some aspects of bow and string instruments started feeling like nails on a chalkboard. I still struggle with listening to some violin/viola music. I took private piano lessons for a few years after that.
I went to the Art Institute of Pittsburgh for my first year of undergrad studying Media Arts and Animation, then transferred to the University of Maryland in College Park where I received my Computer Science degree. I started teaching myself bass guitar in 2011 during my junior year there. I received my master’s degree in Interactive Design and Media at Philadelphia University in 2015 and joined my first band as a bassist in 2016. I’ve been in a band ever since while also working as a software engineer.
At the heart of everything I do is a deep curiosity about the nature of reality and the potential of human consciousness. Whether I’m writing code, building a cyberdeck, composing music, or just dancing in my kitchen like my mom did — I’m always looking for ways to help people remember that they have the power to shape their experience of life. My hope is that through art, technology, and truth-telling, we can collectively reimagine our world — and bring something closer to heaven down to earth.
(This final paragraph was written with the help of an AI… which helped me write the part about getting help from an AI… which…)
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The road has not been smooth. Growing up was chaotic. There was a lot of abuse, yelling and violence. My mother was a light in the darkness. Though her passing was very hard, her memory gives me a lot of strength today.
I also went through several difficult romantic relationships that taught me a lot of valuable lessons about myself.
What’s helped me the most is my curiosity about the nature of my self and reality. For fun and during my most trying times, I read texts from a lot of different religions, philosophies, and sciences.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m most proud of my music. I recently released a short EP called Belle on all platforms, under the name Jack The Beaut — it’s fully self-produced and blends English and French as both a creative choice and a study tool. The lyrics are meant to spark self-reflection. I taught myself to play drums for the project (using a set gifted by my boyfriend), and I also played acoustic bass and keyboard. I’m currently working on a much longer follow-up album.
By trade, I’m a native Android developer, currently consulting with Major League Baseball. I love the art of programming — building clean, intuitive interfaces and solving problems creatively. But my dream is to one day be free from the 9–5 structure so I can fully dedicate myself to exploring and sharing my creative work across disciplines.
I’ve recently started photographing live events for fun — mostly spontaneous, often for free. I love being able to gift artists photos that reflect how powerful and radiant they looked while performing. It’s another way I practice seeing and celebrating others.
I also build cyberdecks — portable DIY computers inspired by sci-fi and hacker films. These aren’t just aesthetic pieces; they’re part of a decentralized internet project I’m building. The goal is to help everyday people store and share essential information (like medical and survival knowledge, or creative works) without relying on big tech or centralized servers.
In everything I do — whether it’s music, code, photography, or tech design — I’m working toward a world where people feel more empowered, connected, and in tune with who they really are.
What’s next?
I have a lot of passions, and I’m building a life that lets me explore them fully — as both a creator and a teacher.
I want to continue producing and performing music, especially on bass, and eventually teach it to others. I’d love to photograph and film more live performances, help artists make music videos, and build tools like cyberdecks that empower people to create, connect, and preserve important human knowledge — like how to heal, survive, and build — all on their own terms. I’m also passionate about teaching — especially hardware and software development — and would love to create learning spaces that make tech feel less intimidating and more magical.
Speaking of magic — one of my biggest dreams is to create science-based magic shows. I believe what we call “magic” is just science we don’t understand yet. I’m fascinated by technologies like ultrasonic levitation, laser-based sound visualization, and volumetric displays — as well as fundamental forces like electromagnetism.
I recently bought a motorcycle so I can travel and take pictures in a fun way. I enrolled in a motorcycle maintenance course and hope to become a certified mechanic.
Ultimately, everything I’m working on is in service of a bigger vision: helping create a world that feels like heaven on earth.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.linktr.ee/jackthebeaut
Image Credits
Travis Pearsall, Yalan Sesay, Ubroadcast Media Studios, Rich Rocket
