“A kid cannot learn with an empty stomach.”

Gerard and I pretty much share all parenting responsibilities, although I’m definitely the disciplinarian.

I’m Colombian and nothing will change that.

Sensual is everything that refers to the delight of the senses. And that’s what artists do, is stimulate the senses in any possible way.

You’re a song written by the hands of God.

I tried to give my career a shot from Barranquilla, but the musicians would never show up. It was just not taken seriously.

The worst mistake of a woman is to go to the kitchen, because then she never gets out of there.

My man, Gerard, prefers meat over bone. That takes the pressure off. I already have a lot to worry about.

I admire a person who, for the love of art, is able to take off their clothes in front of a camera. But I’m not capable, I’m too cowardly for that.

So I like the work he’s doing, and I support it, and I realise that he’s one of very few political leaders around the world that actually has early-childhood development strategise at the top of his agenda.

In this life, to earn your place you have to fight for it.

My therapist taught me why I behave in certain ways and not to feel so pressured.

I am a person who has many dreams. But as soon as I accomplish one, I move on to the next. That’s my fatal, absurd nature. Human beings are slaves to our dreams, and I am, too. Now I think I just want to share my musical proposal in its entire form.

I always knew that I was tremendously creative. I recited love poems, I wrote stories and I got excellent grades in every subject, except for maths.

I’m a closet nerd. I love to study history and visit museums.

Success happened little by little for me. I tasted the flavor of fame in small doses: I started at 10 years old when I won a music contest; I was performing at birthday parties, company meetings.

I adore my dad. He’s a 78-year-old man and my inspiration.

I didn’t tell my kids, ‘You have to play viola, and you have to play piano.’ They chose these things on their own, and I don’t think we have to give kids every choice, but we do have to give them some choice because that autonomy is crucial for fostering passion.

The reason you want your kids to pay attention in school is you haven’t the faintest idea how to do their homework.

A writer either speaks to adults and bores kids, or speaks to kids and upsets adults.

Every kid has something they’re good at, that you hope they find and gravitate toward.

I was a really lousy artist as a kid. Too abstract expressionist; or I’d draw a big ram’s head, really messy.

I like kids’ work more than work by real artists any day.

When you’re accustomed to wealth, you don’t show it, right? That’s why the white kids in school could wear bummy sneakers; it’s almost like, ‘Don’t show wealth – that’s crass.’

There are so many things that kids care about, where they excel, where they try hard, where they learn important life lessons, that are not picked up by test scores.