AS the famously sideburned frontman for the boundlessly popular Britpop band Supergrass, Gaz Coombes seemed to be having the time of his life.

During the mid-90s, he was one of the genre’s most recognisable faces with hits like Alright, Moving and Richard III becoming the kind of indie disco anthems that defined an era.

Supergrass split in 2010 and since then Gaz has released two solo albums and is currently readying a third, World’s Strongest Man, which he’ll be playing in Wrexham when he appears as part of the town’s Focus festival.

“I think I’m really hitting my stride now with both the writing and the approach,” says Gaz on the phone from his Oxfordshire home. “It’s feeling great and it’s been a productive and inspiring time through these last two records.”

The 42-year-old’s politically charged Here Come The Bombs appeared in early summer 2012 and after his second self-produced album, Matador, appeared in January 2015, World’s Strongest Man sees Gaz continuing his quest to move from his former band’s care free image.

“I always want to write about what is happening around me, whether it’s more personal stuff or it’s the bigger picture,” he says. “None of us can ignore certain things that are happening around the world, as well as certain attitudes and situations and that all seeps into the lyrics.

“That’s just the way I write - it’s a snapshot of my inner space over the last few years.”

The recently released second track from the album, Walk the Walk, is, Gaz says, about all the “misguided, delusional men that are making the world worse for everyone else”, so is the man who famously sang about keeping his teeth “nice and clean” getting a political concious?

“It’s the result of all sorts of things,” he laughs. “It’s a strange world you live in being a musician - it’s very easy to fall into your own bubble and Supergrass was a bit like that. We were our own little gang but growing up and having kids makes you learn to look outwards and look at things differently.

“I might read a headline or see a story on TV and that helps build the whole bigger picture.”

Moving on from such a big band and defining himself as a solo artist is of course the challenge for any frontman so associated with one act but Gaz is defiantly up for the challenge after forming Supergrass when he and bandmates Danny Goffey and Mickey Quinn were still in their teens.

“You have to prove it to people with your music and with what you do,” he says. “At the same time I don’t feel I have anything to prove and this is just another version of me which is all about moving forward and progressing.

“It’s natural and right for me to keep wanting to create new things and not standing still. I don’t want to live off the legacy in any kind of way but at the same time the last 25 years have really shaped me. They were amazing, brilliant times but you move forward and I’m excited by new ideas and new ways of making music.”

Even before Supergrass, Gaz was the lead singer of the Jennifers, who landed a record deal when he was just 16, meaning he’s been a full time musician for almost 30 years.

“If I was still playing in the same band maybe I’d feel bored,” he says. “Supergrass split up and there was a reason why it finished it when it did because you have to keep freshening life up a bit man!”

Musically, Supergrass’ memorable tunes seemed to blend the infectiously catchy punk-pop of the Buzzcocks and the Jam, as well as the post-punk pop of Madness and the traditional Britpop of the Kinks and Small Faces but Gaz’s solo records see him branching out with everything from krautrock to space-aged gospel.

“I don’t try to listen to too much when I’m writing as I find it quite helpful if I empty my mind of music in order to let my instinct take over,” says Gaz.

“When I’m not recording I’ve been enjoying the Lemon Twigs album and I’ve been listening to Goat’s records and Fat White Family. At the same time I might put on a Captain Beefheart record or listen to ESG but whether it’s all creeped into this record I’m not sure.”

As for playing live, Gaz still has the same enthusiasm for gigging that saw Supergrass become a must-see band two decades ago and he’s looking forward to his appearance at Focus Wales.

“I did two weeks of shows in the States and as well as a guitar and a piano I’ve got some loops and drum machines and some weird stuff I’m going to play around with,” he adds excitedly.

“It makes for a cool show and it’s been getting a great response - I’m really enjoying it. I’m really excited by the look of the Focus Festival and I think it’s going to be really good fun.”

Gaz Coombes will perform a special intimate solo set on the Saturday of Focus Wales festival - May 12 - at the William Aston Hall, Wrexham. Tickets available from the Leader shop, 10 High Street, Wrexham LL13 8HP, 01978 355151 & Bank Street Coffee, 5A Bank St, Wrexham LL11 1AH or go to www.focuswales.com