Idol Chatter & Voice Views

David Cook will release his long-awaited fourth album Friday.

But judging from comments he makes in a new video posted to his Facebook page, he wasn’t all that certain what would happen when he began making the music that became “Digital Vein.”

“I think making this record, there was — I never knew where the finish line was,” he says in the video. “I wasn’t even sure there was a finish line. I started it with the idea that I just wanted to enjoy making music, and if I can’t do that, then I’m done.

“The one thing I’ll hold onto probably more than anything else from this process — I think this album, and the recording of it and the way we’re putting it out — it’s just kind of reaffirmed my love for making music. And I think I probably needed that.”

Once committed to the project, David said he “wanted this record to feel like a bookend of maybe the last 10 years or so of my life.”

And what a 10 years it’s been.

Pre-Idol, David was supporting himself by working as a bartender. Having already performed with a number of bands, he released a debut album called “Analog Heart” in 2006 that received some critical praise, but certainly wasn’t widely known.

Then came Season 7 of American Idol. The show was still at the peak of its popularity; that season’s cast was especially talented.

David captured fans’ attention with unique twists on songs like “Eleanor Rigby,” “Billy Jean” and Dolly Parton’s “Little Sparrow,” and found himself in an epic finale against early favorite David Archuleta.

David Cook won, of course, then released a self-titled album that went platinum in a heartbeat.

And when he lost his brother to brain cancer the year after winning Idol, David responded by getting involved in Washington, D.C.’s “Race for Hope.” To date, he and his fans have raised more than $1.2 million for brain cancer research.

But David also fell prey the the sophomore jinx that’s bitten every Idol finalist not named Kelly Clarkson or Carrie Underwood. When sales of album number two (2011’s “This Loud Morning”) failed to come close to matching his post-Idol debut, he parted ways with his record company.

He moved to Nashville and began writing songs for other artists as well. One of his co-writes, “Kiss You Tonight,” became a country hit for David Nail.

Then came “Digital Vein,” an album he’d have to make independently, just like “Analog Heart” nearly 10 years earlier. In fact, that’s the reason behind the name of the new album.

“The creative processes for both records felt a little similar,” David says in the video. “Obviously, 10 years removed now from Analog Heart, there’s more to pull from — more resources, more life experiences. But the way I went about Digital Vein was very similar to the way I went about Analog Heart, so I wanted them to feel connected, even if by name only.”

One big difference: “Digital Vein” was made with the help of fans, who chipped in to support the album via a highly successful Pledge Music campaign.

David says he was a little timid about taking that approach at first, fearful of asking too much from a fan base that has been so supportive of him, including his charitable efforts.

“To see us put out this call and see them (fans) respond the way they have and be so supportive of ‘Digital Vein’ and, I guess to a bigger level, to be supportive of me, is pretty humbling,” David says.

Pre-orders for “Digital Vein” are still underway. And Friday night, David is live streaming a sold-out album release event being held in Nashville. For details on how to watch, head here.