Solo ambient performer

From Jon Hassell's band
to the solo stage.

I recorded and produced Jon Hassell's final two albums and spent the 2010s in his band. Now I perform solo ambient on bass guitar and Chapman Stick, carrying the Fourth World forward.

Selected releases

John von Seggern Ambient Bass Guitar 2023 · Solo album Solo bass guitar, played live. One take per track, no overdubs.
Jon Hassell Listening to Pictures 2018 · Recording and production Pentimento Volume One.
Jon Hassell Seeing Through Sound 2020 · Recording and production Pentimento Volume Two.
Simplexity Extreme Measures 2010 · [ role credit ] Electronic jazz with John Beasley, Steve Tavaglione, Gary Novak, and Walt Fowler.

A working life in sound

  1. 2000s

    The Los Angeles underground

    Experimental electronic music in LA's underground electronic scene. [ aliases, nights, releases to name ]

  2. 2008

    Film

    Sound design and effects for Thomas Newman's Oscar-nominated score to Pixar's WALL-E. [ other soundtrack work ]

  3. 2010s

    The Jon Hassell band

    Core member through the decade. Recorded and produced Listening to Pictures (2018) and Seeing Through Sound (2020). Played Hassell's final concert, London 2015.

  4. Now

    Solo ambient

    Solo performer on bass guitar, Chapman Stick, and live electronics. Carrying the Fourth World method onto the stage.

John von Seggern silhouetted with bass guitar against a projection screen

Lineage

I recorded and produced Jon Hassell's last two albums, and played in his band through the 2010s. This music comes out of that decade.

On stage

Solo ambient sets, played live: Chapman Stick, bass guitar, and electronics. Long tones, live processing, one performer.

The Fourth World project is being built for the stage as well, carrying Jon Hassell's live language forward. Promoters and festivals who want either set can reach me directly.

Listen

The records are on Bandcamp. Labels, promoters, and writers are welcome to get in touch directly.