Craig Small Music is making a big splash in 2026 with the release of "THE WOLF," a powerful new single that feels both carefully crafted and full of life. The song comes from the misty heights of Katoomba, Australia, and is the result of a long creative partnership between Craig Small and Peter Shilling that has endured across time, space, and artistic growth.
Over ten years ago, Peter Shilling came up with the idea for "THE WOLF" as an instrumental sketch in GarageBand. When Craig Small took over, what started as a basic idea grew into something much bigger. He added a strong melodic identity and turned the song into a fully realized story experience. The final product has that sense of patience and purpose built into it.
The production took place over several months and was recorded at well-known studios such as The Kill Room on the South Coast of New South Wales and SmallSongs in the Blue Mountains. Instead of rushing things, Small and Shilling let the song grow naturally, making its mood and emotional pull better at each stage. The result is a song that feels purposeful, engaging, and well-paced.
The reimagining of the main character in "THE WOLF" is one of the most interesting creative choices. Instead of relying on well-known tropes, the collaborators transformed the Wolf into a woman who is angry, powerful, and inspired by the striking visual storytelling of Japanese anime from the 1990s. This change gives the song a unique edge by putting it in a point of view that feels both striking and unapologetically bold.
Craig Small and Peter Shilling show with "THE WOLF" that time, trust, and creative risk can lead to something truly memorable, a release that doesn't make a lot of noise, but instead shows confidence.