When you’re working hard to promote your music – from updating your blog to making merchandise to interacting with your fans over social media – one of the best things you can do to recharge and get back to the basics is seek out a little musical inspiration every now and then.

And by “seek out a little musical inspiration,” we really just mean, dance.

Dance.

From Ellie Goulding to Avicii, dance music has been enjoying a powerful resurgence in 2013 and 2014. Combining fresh sounds with thumping beats, dance has made its way to center stage. Though it lives on at parties, raves, and music festivals, it’s become increasingly popular on the airwaves – oftentimes intermingled with catchy pop sounds and unforgettable choruses.

From the US to the UK to New Zealand, here is our compiled list of the top 5 most popular dance songs:

1. “Hey Brother” by Avicii: Coming in at number one this month in Canada, Portugal, Spain, and Switzerland is Avicii’s “Hey Brother.” Originally released in mid-December, Avicii’s powerhouse anthem pairs killer beats with a bluegrass tone that will get your heart racing.
2. “Animals” by Martin Garrix: Topping charts across the world, “Animals” has taken over from Garrix’s native Holland to the packed crowds at the famous Electric Daisy Carnival. With “Animals,” Garrix (at the young and impressive age of 17) artfully layers synthetic sound, building momentum until his audience is more than sucked in.
3. “Rather Be” by Clean Bandit (feat. Jess Glynne): Deemed “fresh and infectious” by popular UK music review site Digital Spy, “Rather Be” melds hip-hop, trance, and – perhaps most appealingly – classical. We love the awesome vocals, we love the unique blends, and we love the can’t-get-it-out-of-your-head beat.
4. “Thinking About You” by Calvin Harris (feat. Ayah Marar): Currently featured on the iTunes Top 10 Dance Songs US chart, “Thinking About You” is without a doubt some of Harris’s best work on the album “18 Months.” Smooth, fresh, and intermingled comfortably with catchy pop elements, the dance track reaffirms our already-strong feelings toward Harris – and lays the foundation for our interest in the confident Marar.
5. “Take Me Home” by Cash Cash: To put it simply, “Take Me Home” by Cash Cash is just plain fun. Catchy, solid, bright, “Take Me Home” highlights the obviously-talented songstress Bebe Rexha, who croons love and heartbreak between youthful, head-nodding beats.

Be sure to check back soon with SongCast to discover more sounds, more beats, and of course, the answer to the question, “How can I promote my music?” We may be a little busy practicing our Melbourne Shuffle, but we’re sure we’ll get it down in no time.

(Photo credit: doandroidsdance.com)