After a preview of the album at Criteria Studios in North Miami, a reporter sat down with Juanes, 35, to talk about what inspires his music. Q This record is full of songs about disillusionment and falling out of love. What happened? A My music is a reflection of my reality, and each record represents the periods of my life. “Life … is a Moment” is a part of my life in which there was a transition. It will be reflected in the songs, as if it were the end of a cycle, and another starts.

There’s some sadness — it’s difficult — but I feel that I can keep going and find myself again. Q Emotionally it seems very direct and intense. A Yes, I feel like this record is more open — it’s as if these songs are everything that’s happened to me recently. It’s very transparent. This is what I am, this is what’s happened to me, and here it is in the songs. For me it was a kind of therapy, because when I go into these feelings, the songs freed me from the pain a little.

Q Tell me about the song “Bandera de Manos (Flag of Hands).” Is this about Colombia? A This is a song that took root in Colombia, but I think it’s more universal. It has to do with the situation in Iraq, with the issue of immigrants in the U.S. and Europe, with the situation of displaced people in Colombia, with indigenous people and peasants. It’s taking all these things at a single moment, how we’re in this world that’s so violent. Q Do you think music can help overcome these problems? A No.

The truth is, it’s hard. I think we can neither tolerate other religions nor accept differences. It’s complicated. I think it’s a problem of inequality more than poverty, and I think this generates a lot of hate, and this hate creates war. And this inequality is growing. Q Does Karen know what the songs are about? A Yes, Karen knows absolutely everything. Q Is that hard for her? A We’re human.