For nearly two decades with Supergrass, Gaz Coombes came to embody the oddball end of British indie band Britpop. But it is through his solo work that he has found himself. With his 2015 album Matador, he presented a new musical identity: wide-screen, emotional, cinematic and full of artistic surprises. It earned him a Mercury Prize and an Ivor Novello Award nomination. “With Matador I almost got it right…” he says.
His third album, World’s Strongest Man, (released on May 4th) brings that solo self into dazzling definition. Inspired variously by Grayson Perry’s the Descent of Man, Frank Ocean’s Blonde, Californian weed, British woodlands, unchecked masculinity and hip hop (and a whole lot more besides), There’s more space and light in the music; it’s a truly remarkable collection of eleven deeply personal songs each set to expansive, addictive melody.

[Programming descriptions are generated by participants and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of SXSW.]