Shakira's break from music was "healthy", but she now can't wait to get back to the recording studio.
The 39-year-old singer has been concentrating on her personal life since welcoming sons Milan and Sasha with boyfriend Gerard Pique into the world.
But now Shakira feels the time has come for her to get stuck back into her music career.
"I've been taking a temporary license away from music for my kids, justified by them," Shakira said during an appearance on British television show Lorraine on Thursday (24Mar16). "And the truth is that it was healthy, because there have been times in my life that I have fought with my own career because you get driven to that point where you really need to step away for a second.
"But the reality is that it is vital for me, and this is who I am - music is in the very fibre of my being. And I need to get back to it, so my kids are going to have to excuse me for a little bit.
"I've been devoted to them the whole time but right now I feel like they're going to have to visit me more often to the studio (sic) because I'm going to be writing a new album."
Shakira has also made a move into the movie industry, voicing the character of Gazelle in new movie Zootopia. However, she acknowledges that balancing all aspects of her life can often be very difficult.
"It's hard to keep a balance," she said. "I think it's one of the biggest challenges that women have today. We have to do so many things - be mothers, be professionals, be girlfriends, and keep it all together, juggling everything around. But it is what it is and we have to rise to that challenge," she explained.
Perhaps one thing Shakira could do to allow herself a break would be to pop on Zootopia for her boys to watch. She admitted in the interview she decided to sign on to the project because she has such a belief in its message.
"I think the plot is so original and also with a powerful message," she said. "It all came together for me and I thought it was a perfect match. I think it's one of the best animation movies I've ever seen and I'm really humbled and proud to be a part of this project."
