Shakira breaks silence on split with Gerard Piqué saying break up is ‘darkest time of her life’

She spoke about their children Milan, nine, and Sasha, seven, being her "medicine" and said writing music is like her "therapy" during her "darest hours".

She said: "I feel like in this moment of my life, which is probably one of the most difficult, darkest hours of my life, music has brought light."

In her first interview since the dissolution of her marriage she added: "We all go through stuff in life. But in my case, I think that writing music is like going to the shrink, only cheaper.

"It just helps me process my emotions and make sense of them. And it helps me to heal.

"I think it’s the best medicine, and along with the love of my family and my kids that sustains me, music and writing music is definitely one of those tools—one of the few tools I have for survival in extreme conditions."

Asked how she has coped with not being "together" with footballer Gerard, who she met in 2010, the mum of two said: "I think that those details are somehow too private to share, at least at this very moment—everything is so raw and new.

"I can only say that I put everything I had into this relationship and my family.

"Before my kids started school, I had a really nomadic life — I had lived my entire existence as an artist, traveling non-stop, going to different places around the world, touring, doing shows, promotion, building schools in Colombia, and recording in different countries around the world...

"I put my career in second gear and I came to Spain, to support him so he could play football and win titles. And it was a sacrifice of love. Thanks to that, my kids were able to have a present mom, and I have this amazing bond with them that is unbreakable and that sustains us. You know, that is it. That’s all I can say."

The superstar, who met Gerard in 2010, reflected on their new partnership and said that working together to parent their sons is their priority.

She said: "Regardless of how things ended or how Gerard and I feel about each other as ex-partners, he is the father of my children.

"We have a job to do for these two incredible boys, and I have faith that we will figure out what is best for their future, their own dreams in life, and what is a fair solution for everyone involved. And I hope and would appreciate if we were given the space to do that privately."

Shakira met Gerard after he featured in the video to her song Waka Waka, released for footie's World Cup that year.

The singer has been keeping busy in the US as a judge on telly show Dancing With Myself, alongside Nick Jonas.

In April she released the single Te Felicito with Puerto Rican singer Rauw Alejandro, which will feature on her upcoming 12th album.