Todd Michaelsen

“My Pet Dragon plays well-crafted alt-rock and
vocalist/songwriter Todd Michaelsen has a tenor voice that falls
somewhere between Thom Yorke & Muse's Matthew Bellamy." - --Brooklyn Rocks

“Love Anthem” has aggression in the music and unity in the lyrics,
overall delivering a song that is so fitting in a year filled with global outcry." –Peacedriven - Peacedriven Campaign

My Pet Dragon might just be the next best thing in the new indie music scene. They have really catchy hooks and busting tracks that just get your feet moving. These guys make songs that not only get stuck in your head; they make you feel good about it. All the critics agree, these guys are way underrated and it won’t be long before they are standing shoulder to shoulder with some of the big boys in indie rock.
My Pet Dragon are veteran musicians, making music since 2006 with their first LP “First Born”. Their second LP, “Mountains and Cities”, came out just last year, and the single “Moonshine” from that album has been featured on Fuse TV. But My Pet Dragon isn’t just a good recorded band; they are known for their powerful live shows that not only show off their fantastic musical talents, but also their dancing skills as front-woman Reena Shah shows off some Indian style dance.
My Pet Dragon are on their way to indie rock stardom, so pick up “First Born” and “Mountains and Cities” now so you can show off to your friends later and say “I liked them back when…” Here is their single “Moonshine” to get you going. - Hypetree

Strong pop melodies and lead singer/songwriter Todd Michaelsen's soaring vocals define their newly released LP, Mountains and Cities. The 5-piece melodic rock band has been compared to Coldplay, the Smashing Pumpkins, and the Flaming Lips. - Filter Magazine

My Pet Dragon is not your typical Brooklyn N.Y.-based rock band. Seemingly gimmick-less, this five-piece creates sweeping, anthemic, atmospheric rock songs, and sounds larger than five members strong. With vocals that soar, a multitude of layers, and a handle on catchy melodies, My Pet Dragon bring their enveloping sound to The Space on Sat., Feb. 4. If ever there was a band on the rise coming through town, this would be it. Don't miss it. - CT.com

Occupy Wall Street now has an A-list soundtrack: the compilation Occupy This Album, which was announced today and will be released sometime this spring. The record will feature music from Debbie Harry, Jackson Browne, Yoko Ono, Third Eye Blind, Crosby and Nash and many more. Several of the contributors, including Joan Baez and Crosby and Nash, performed at the New York OWS site while it was still active.

Read more: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/occupy-wall-street-album-to-feature-tom-morello-crosby-nash-yoko-ono-20120123#ixzz1kVVY7JTh
- Rolling Stone

Occupy Wall Street now has an A-list soundtrack: the compilation Occupy This Album, which was announced today and will be released sometime this spring. The record will feature music from Debbie Harry, Jackson Browne, Yoko Ono, Third Eye Blind, Crosby and Nash and many more. Several of the contributors, including Joan Baez and Crosby and Nash, performed at the New York OWS site while it was still active.

Read more: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/occupy-wall-street-album-to-feature-tom-morello-crosby-nash-yoko-ono-20120123#ixzz1kVVY7JTh
- Rolling Stone

The response from radio programmers to the My Pet Dragon single “Moonshine” has been stellar, and one look at this studio performance of the track for Indie Ambassador TV will tell you why. Enjoy! - Right Arm Resource

"My Pet Dragon singer Todd Michaelsen belts his tenor up to the rafters. Playing anthems better suited to arenas than small Brooklyn clubs, it's really only a matter of time before this band is all over the radio." - Deli Magazine

Sessions: My Pet Dragon (Brooklyn)

Written by Aidan Rush Posted in: Sessions on January 10, 2012

Serendipity is a word defined as “an aptitude for making desirable discoveries by accident.” It’s also the term Todd Michaelsen used to describe how he met band mate and now wife, Reena Shah. Now if Todd's desirable discovery stopped there it wouldn't be newsworthy, but Todd and Reena's happenstance was just the beginning of the serendipitous journey that would soon befall Brooklyn-bred five-piece family My Pet Dragon.

Through his newly formed relationship, MPD core songwriter and founder Todd Michaelsen suddenly found himself half a world a way in India where the people and the culture impacted his songwriting more than he could have imagined. Just as Todd and Reena had thrived despite their economic hardships in Brooklyn, the people of India were loving life despite the immense poverty they were a part of. The result of this musician boy meets dancing girl, travels to India, and gets engaged fairytale is an aural experience that’s upbeat, anthemic, and life-affirming. Think similarly global sounding bands like Coldplay or U2 before they were international superstars and the music was still authentic. Add in Reena’s classical Indian Bharata Natyam dance and you’ve got one hell of a concert.

Over the past five years, members of My Pet Dragon have composed original scores for film, collaborated with famed DJ Karsh Kale, and had a record produced by Stephen George, the original drummer of legendary act Ministry. The band's future plans include pushing their project in an up-tempo and psychedelic direction, and playing regional dates around New England during spring 2012. While you’re waiting for new material to drop, be sure to look for their song “Love Anthem” off Mountains and Cities as part of the Occupy compilation coming out in February, also featuring the likes of Lucinda Williams, Jackson Brown, Ladytron, Yo La Tengo and many more. For the closest thing you can get to an MPD concert without being there in person, check out the band's performances of "Flow", "Love Anthem" and "Moonshine" in our latest IAtv Session! - Indie Ambassador

As NBC New York has been reporting, storied songwriter Jackson Browne, alt-rock survivors Third Eye Blind and LA folk-rockers Dawes plays Zuccotti Park on Thursday. This will be the first time high-profile musicians have played for Occupy Wall Street protesters since the park was raided two weeks ago. Jackson Browne and Third Eye Blind will also appear on Occupy This Album, a benefit album compilation organized by Music for Occupy.

A final tracklisting is not available yet, but Crosby and Nash, Jackson Browne, Warren Haynes, Aeroplane Pageant, DJ Logic, Yo La Tengo, Lloyd Cole, Devo, Stephan Said, Lucinda Williams, Toots and the Maytals, Tao Rodriguez Seeger, Third Eye Blind, My Pet Dragon, Alex Emanuel, Joel Rafael, Ladytron, Chroma, Cosmonaut, Jennie Arnau, Dylan Chambers, Global Block, Mystic Bowie, Harry Hayward, Mike + Ruthy, Jay Samel, Matt Pless, Mike Rimbaud are listed as appearing.

Music for Occupy will donate all proceeds from the album to, as its website says, "directly towards the needs of sustaining this growing movement." - NBC - New York: NONSTOP SOUND

As NBC New York has been reporting, storied songwriter Jackson Browne, alt-rock survivors Third Eye Blind and LA folk-rockers Dawes plays Zuccotti Park on Thursday. This will be the first time high-profile musicians have played for Occupy Wall Street protesters since the park was raided two weeks ago. Jackson Browne and Third Eye Blind will also appear on Occupy This Album, a benefit album compilation organized by Music for Occupy.

A final tracklisting is not available yet, but Crosby and Nash, Jackson Browne, Warren Haynes, Aeroplane Pageant, DJ Logic, Yo La Tengo, Lloyd Cole, Devo, Stephan Said, Lucinda Williams, Toots and the Maytals, Tao Rodriguez Seeger, Third Eye Blind, My Pet Dragon, Alex Emanuel, Joel Rafael, Ladytron, Chroma, Cosmonaut, Jennie Arnau, Dylan Chambers, Global Block, Mystic Bowie, Harry Hayward, Mike + Ruthy, Jay Samel, Matt Pless, Mike Rimbaud are listed as appearing.

Music for Occupy will donate all proceeds from the album to, as its website says, "directly towards the needs of sustaining this growing movement." - NBC - New York: NONSTOP SOUND

The group moves away from the roughed-up sounds of its noisier contemporaries, favoring a more highly refined approach that recalls the anthem hits of U2. - Artist Spotlight: 2011 CMJ

"As U2 and Muse are already packing stadiums around the world... it’s really only a matter of time before My Pet Dragon is doing the same. Thanks to Michaelsen and his musical compadres, they’ve already got the hooks and chutzpah to make it happen. Now all they need is opportunity to knock on the door." —Crispin Kott - Roll Magazine

"As U2 and Muse are already packing stadiums around the world... it’s really only a matter of time before My Pet Dragon is doing the same. Thanks to Michaelsen and his musical compadres, they’ve already got the hooks and chutzpah to make it happen. Now all they need is opportunity to knock on the door." —Crispin Kott - Roll Magazine

"Majestic Lovers", the band’s wise choice lead single, is chimey anthemics — and that’s this band’s sweet spot. Equally soaring, "Love Anthem" takes the guys into Muse/Coldplay/Temper Trap, even Linkin Park alt arena territory, “Crystal Ball” is pretty and driving, & “Lover in Hiding” recalls Bono & Co. circa Atomic Bomb. Which is not to say they don’t throw a few curve balls. The retro bounce of “Darling”, the rollicking "Moonshine" and the wistful, acoustic "Siren" are nice departures. Still, this is big, audacious & brimming with hooks. Considering that’s only kind of rock that gets the big boys to notice anymore, do not be surprised if you’re hearing more from and about My Pet Dragon, and soon. - John Norris (Noisevox, ex-MTV News)

"Majestic Lovers", the band’s wise choice lead single, is chimey anthemics — and that’s this band’s sweet spot. Equally soaring, "Love Anthem" takes the guys into Muse/Coldplay/Temper Trap, even Linkin Park alt arena territory, “Crystal Ball” is pretty and driving, & “Lover in Hiding” recalls Bono & Co. circa Atomic Bomb. Which is not to say they don’t throw a few curve balls. The retro bounce of “Darling”, the rollicking "Moonshine" & the wistful, acoustic "Siren" are nice departures. Still, this is big, audacious & brimming with hooks. Considering that’s only kind of rock that gets the big boys to notice anymore, do not be surprised if you’re hearing more from and about My Pet Dragon, & soon.

- John Norris (Noisevox, ex-MTV News)

"the ideal soundtrack for that cross-country, convertible drive under Augusts’ everlasting sunshine." -- Madi Silvers - The Deli Magazine - New York City

"the ideal soundtrack for that cross-country, convertible drive under Augusts’ everlasting sunshine." -- Madi Silvers - The Deli Magazine - New York City

"Brooklyn-based band My Pet Dragon just released their new album, Mountains and Cities on Gimme That Sound Productions– and it’s a winner. Already receiving rave reviews, Mountains and Cities is your – drive down the coast, wind blowing your hair, destination unknown – kind of album." --Geetanjali Dillon of Republic of Brown - Republic of Brown

"Hazy, Flaming Lips-Esque ethereal tunes highlighted by a melodic tenor" --CMJ Festival Guide - --2010 CMJ Festival Guide

“My Pet Dragon plays well-crafted alt-rock and
vocalist/songwriter Todd Michaelsen has a tenor voice that falls
somewhere between Thom Yorke & Muse's Matthew Bellamy." - --Brooklyn Rocks

"The energy literally flows as it thunders towards to the end, leaving the listener wonder if he was actually at a live pub-gig raucously singing along with the rest of the patrons." - Music Aloud

"A band to keep your eye on in 2011....
MPD’s music has influences
which range from U2 to mid-80s electro pop...
in addition, backup singer Reena Shah’s Indian dancing
keeps the band visually exciting." - Only The Blog Knows Brooklyn

"They've just released their new maxi-single Flow, and i have to say i really like it. Combining the musical stylings of Death cab for cutie and Get cape, Wear Cape, Fly. " - Killer Parties

" Never have I been so moved and absorbed by a male vocalist. It’s not only his soaring range but the sheer warmth you feel when you’re listening to him, sets him right apart from any other singer."

"encompasses gorgeous sounds of elements of rock, pop, electronica, folk and experimental music with a splash of Indian influences and melodic grooves." - Indian E music

WWW.ETHNOTECHNO.COM By Sarika Dani

Now more than ever, unsigned artists command a certain kind of respect. They can be experimental, inconsistent, and difficult to define. They answer to nothing but their own whim, free to develop organically and without label-imposed boundaries on creativity.

Todd Michaelsen, under the (yes, unsigned!) alias My Pet Dragon, is one such artist who is the boss of himself. He wrote, produced, and currently stars in First Born, MPD's first, self-released album. A haunting assembly of Indian influenced-electronica, psychedelic rock, and acoustic folk, "First Born" sounds surprisingly expansive and cinematic for a homegrown recording. It occupies a space between the real and the surreal, appearing more like a concept, a way of thinking, than a definable genre of music. Michaelsen aptly describes the album as "a dreamy, ethereal, layered rock/electronic record. It's a collection of tripped-out, late evening/early morning recordings, meant for headphones and late night car rides."

A big contributor to the "dreamy" dialogue is Michaelsen's soaring vocals. Comparisons to Thom Yorke and Jeff Buckley come easily and immediately, but the likeness diminishes the more you listen-and realize that the emotion in his voice stems from a place that is entirely his own. Michaelsen cites Sigur Ros, Nine Inch Nails, Karsh Kale, and Bjork as influences, noting that he likes "the sounds and emotions you can get out of blending organic and electronic elements together."

Michaelsen does this skillfully on the moody, hypnotic "New York Underwater," and the meandering but rhythmic "Space Love 3000" and "Dreamer's Despair," which both layer guitar and vocals with scattered beats into lush, spaced-out soundscapes. But on tracks like "Born on a Sunday," "The Painter," and "First Born King," Michaelsen tones down the production and favors a simple, acoustic folk sound. It's these variations that reflect the versatility of his talent. "My sound is always evolving and changing because that was the original purpose of creating this outlet for myself," says Michaelsen. "If I want to sing a simple, sweet folk song like 'Born on a Sunday,' I will. If I want to make a heavy, tripped-out dance tune with electronics, guitars, and tabla, I'll do that too. It's all within the 'rock' realm."

Listeners across genres have already responded to the album. Michaelsen says DJs are spinning dance track "Dragon's Breath" in clubs, and meanwhile, the acoustic "Soldier's Lullaby" was featured on Neil Young's website. But Michaelsen notes that "the future of (his music) will lie somewhere between these worlds."

"Holes in the Sky," the album's epic, final track, is a good representation of MPD's almost paradoxical sound: melodic but haunting; ambient but also intense. For now, Michaelsen not only gets away with the paradoxes, but forges new territory in blending disparate sounds and influences together into a novel experience. "I enjoy music that becomes visual to the listener. Drones, tribal beats, and reverbs all give that feeling to me," says Michaelsen. "I really love music that takes you to another place. Sometimes reality is not the best place for your head to be."
- Ethnotechno.com

Perhaps the day’s best discovery (at the Artwallah Festival) was My Pet Dragon, comprised of the newly-wedded team of Reena Shah and Todd Michaelsen, who recently appeared on Karsh Kale’s new album. Reena’s dancing combines her classical training melded with a current, improvisational spirit. Todd, just a lone man with a guitar, seemed to fill the entire downtown area with the force of an entire rock band with beautiful, bittersweet songs, carried across with a stunning voice of lifting intensity, power and flexibility, reminding us of My Morning Jacket singer Jim James’ acoustic record crossed with the steady power of Coldplay’s Chris Martin (uh, but cooler, sorry for the comparison, Todd). The two are as noticably in love as their song-and-dance combination are forceful and stunning. We imagine more than a few copies of their new CD First Born flew off the tables Saturday, as TACO picked one up ourselves.
- LA Taco

Todd Michealsen (a.k.a. My Pet Dragon), hailing from Brooklyn, NY, is a symbol of what threatens the future of the music industry. He embodies the spirit of all talented unsigned artists that push the creative envelope and grow independently. The independent movement is a growing shadow in the background of commercial music.

“Without the promotion or help of a record label, my songs have been played over 20,000 times on the internet,” Michealsen said. “If you use it wisely, the internet can be the only record label you’ll ever need.”

My Pet Dragon proves two truths in today’s music world: Success doesn’t depend on the help of a record label and uncharted musical territory still exists, both in recordings and live shows.

Like the music in 2006’s First Born, Michaelsen’s live performance is nothing short of transcendent. Like something out of a surrealistic movie, Todd plays hypnotic folk rock with his electric guitar while his wife Reena visually interprets his melodies and lyrics through traditional Indian dance. “At one of Todd’s shows I was compelled to get up on stage with him and start dancing, and I’ve been doing it ever since,” says Reena. “His lyrics always tell a story or paint a perfect memory, and my dancing conveys that story into a visual display.”

Fusion of hypnotic song and improvisational dance on stage packs a powerful punch. It lulls the audience into a state of complete concentration and fascination. They seem almost shocked, “Why haven’t I seen something like this before?”

The sound Todd creates pushes music in a new direction. His songs have elements folk, electronic, Indian, and rock. But most importantly, his melodies and lyrics capture his spirit and experimental mentality. If Todd isn’t careful, he may create a new music genre.

This new unnamed genre shows glimmers of life in My Pet Dragon’s debut First Born.

As shown in “Space Love 3000,” Michaelsen can create music with layers of smooth harmonious sound. The gentle flow of melody pushes his introspective lyrics down a dream - like river.

“The Painter” is what a folk song will sound like in the future. Strongly strummed guitar gives way to electronic loops of experimental sound. Michaelsen’s voice creates the perfect apex to this song’s summit.

First Born is not just a construction of verses, choruses and bridges. It is an in - depth description of time, place and feeling. Perhaps this is the essence of the uncharted waters My Pet Dragon seeks to further discover.

“We are just beginning to discover what our possibilities are,” says Michaelsen. “I feel that this thing will be constantly evolving with how we (Reena and Todd) evolve. I am growing into this idea of My Pet Dragon more and more, and I look forward to the future and the possibilities it will bring.”

To experience My Pet Dragon for yourself, visit the MySpace.

by Adam Seidel - collegenews.com