(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. 
Who has a new album?
Who was she married to?
What was his job?
How long did they date?
Are they still together?
When did that happen?
Do they have a son?
His name is?
What song did she put out recently?
Does the album have a title?
What  was her previous song?
When was that out?
What program was she on?
On what channel?
When?
What did she do after that?
How many years was she apart from music?
Who interviewed her
Is her album negative?
Was it always that way?
Hilary Duff
Hilary Duff
Mike Comrie
Mike Comrie
pro hockey player
pro hockey player
three years
three years
separated
separated
unknown
unknown
Yes
with her son
Luca
Their son, Luca
Chasing the Sun
Chasing the Sun
still-untitled album
still-untitled album
Dignity
Dignity
2007
 2007
Lizzie McGuire
Lizzie McGuire
Disney
r popular Disney 
2001 to 2004
2001 to 2004
took a break
 a person, and the break jus
seven years
away from music for seven year
CNN
CNN
very positive
very positive
no
started out "a lot heavier and a lot da