(CNN) -- Hilary Duff says her new album is "very positive" but admits that it started out "a lot heavier and a lot darker" because of the separation from her husband, Mike Comrie. 

"I'm separated from my husband right now, which has been a very difficult thing to go through," she told Billboard's "Pop Shop" podcast. "In the beginning, the album was a lot heavier and a lot darker, because I had to get that out. Once I did get that out, a lot of fun came." 

Duff married Comrie, a former pro hockey player, in 2010 after dating for three years. Their son, Luca, was born in 2012. Duff and Comrie announced their separation in January. 

Duff, 26, admits that she's "nervous" after being away from music for seven years. Her just-released single, "Chasing the Sun," is from her still-untitled album, which will be her first studio release since 2007's "Dignity." 

She says she first started thinking of new material when she was pregnant with her son. After having the child and taking another year, she was even more anxious. 

"I felt like I was missing a big part of myself," she said. 

Duff established a successful singing career on the heels of her popular Disney show, "Lizzie McGuire," which aired from 2001 to 2004. She spent most of her teenage years touring and says that turning 20 was a big factor in leaving the road. 

"It was time for me to be a person, and the break just ended up being a long time," she said. 
What did Duff star in?
How long did that last?
What did she start when that ended?
What was her last release before her new single?
What year did it come out?
How long has she been out of that business?
What is the name of her new song?
How does she feel?
How old is she?
Who did she marry?
When?
Did they date first?
How long?
How long were they married before they had a child?
What is his name?
Are they still together?
Did they get a divorce?
What did they do?
When did she come up with new stuff for her music?
How long did she wait after he was born?
Lizzie McGuire
Lizzie McGuire
from 2001 to 2004
from 2001 to 2004
a successful singing career
a successful singing career 
seven years
seven years
2007
 2007
seven years
seven years
Chasing the Sun
Chasing the Sun
nervous
nervous
26
26
Mike Comrie
Mike Comrie
2010
2010
Yes
after dating for three years
three years
three years
2 years
Their son, Luca, was born in 2012
Luca
Their son, Luca,
No
announced their separation
No
separation from her husband
Separated
 announced their separation
when she was pregnant with her son
when she was pregnant with her son
another year
 taking another year