Born and raised in Akureyri, Iceland, Hafsteinn developed an early fascination with rhythm and sound that led him to the drum kit at age nine. His formative years were shaped by the rich musical culture of northern Iceland before he moved to The Hague to pursue a professional jazz education at the Royal Conservatoire.

Studying under Felix Schlarmann, Stefan Kruger, Eric Ineke, and Willie Jones III, he built a thorough grounding in the bebop and post-bop traditions. His Icelandic background continues to inform his compositional voice — spare, lyrical, and unhurried. He leads his own quartet and collaborates regularly with ensembles across the Netherlands and beyond.

As a composer, Hafsteinn gravitates toward extended forms that give improvisers room to breathe, often weaving melodic cells through shifting metric environments. His debut recording is expected in late 2026.