Hafsteinn Reykjalín Jóhannesson

I was born in Hauganes in Eyjafjörður and grew up surrounded by music, enjoying singing myself from an early age. I worked as a sailor for many years, completed vocational training, and became a certified master mechanic. Later, I attended the Icelandic School of Trade, graduating as a Master of Trade in Mechanics.

I began writing poetry at a young age and soon started composing music for my poems. To date, I have published seven poetry books.

I have attended numerous music courses and written many song lyrics, composing music for a large number of them. I have released two CDs featuring 23 poems and songs of my own creation: Ljúfar stundir and Lífið er dans.

Several of Iceland’s best-known singers have performed my songs. I have also published two solo songbook volumes: Volume 1 (arranged by Jón Kristinn Cortez) and Volume 2 (arranged by Þórður Magnússon).

Among my principal producers have been Össur Geirsson, Páll B. Szabó, Vilhjálmur Guðjóns, and others.

At present, I have 85 poems available in musical notation, and I have also composed numerous songs based on poems by other authors.