The 41-year-old star has worked on her own solo career over the past few years but said she still has room for her band No Doubt, with a new album rumoured to be on the cards later this year.
She said to UK's Stylist magazine: 'It was never a break-up. It was always going to happen. We never stopped for all those years, but after Rock Steady [their fifth album], everybody was ready for a little time off.'
The star added that her solo career happened by chance after one single did well.
She said: 'It was more about making a dance record, I didn't even think of it as a solo opportunity. It was more of a creative project. I wasn't even going to tour but it was so amazing, how can you resist?'