What to know
- Toronto content creator Unsighted has gone viral for his “Transit Karaoke” videos, where he sings on public transit to encourage commuters to join in and connect with each other.
- The series began in September 2025 with a performance of “I Want It That Way” by Backstreet Boys on a Queen Street streetcar, and despite little response at first, the videos eventually exploded online with tens of millions of views.
- After more than 55 attempts across cities including Toronto, Vancouver, Los Angeles, New York City and London, Unsighted says commuters now often sing along almost instantly and overwhelmingly react positively to the experience.
- Unsighted says the videos are rooted in promoting mental health, uplifting strangers and building stronger community connections in Toronto by encouraging people to support and engage with one another.
Transit karaoke videos have been taking the city by storm on social media, garnering tens of millions of views on videos of commuters singing along, or avoiding eye contact, with the creator behind the hit videos: “Unsighted.”
As a poet, rapper, and now content creator, Unsighted began making social media videos one year ago, in an effort to post more light-hearted and fun content alongside the rap videos he was already posting.
Unsighted uploaded his first Transit Karaoke video in September 2025. He said he chose this format – singing to “I Want It That Way” by The Backstreet Boys in the middle of a crowded Queen Street streetcar – to bring together the community and foster human interaction.
“I’m the kind of person where if I go into a Walmart and a song’s bumping that I really like, I’ll be dancing through the Walmart, and I’m just like ‘hey, what’s good,’ and someone else will be like ‘hey, what’s good,’ and those are moments that lighten up my day,” he explained.
Unsighted added interactions like these were something he wanted to share widespread online.
And despite an unsuccessful first attempt, where almost no one sang along, Unsighted pushed on and continued to try to uplift Toronto transit users through his spontaneous belting.
Fifty-five attempts later, Unsighted has sung in multiple cities, including Vancouver, Los Angeles, New York and London, with some videos even garnering more than 20 million views.
By his latest attempt, the rapper has commuters almost instantly singing along.
Unsighted said he’s seen a lot of positive reaction toward his Transit Karaoke series.
“Out of 100 per cent of people, the hater level is at like one per cent,” he said. “The vibe while people enter, and when they come in, they just see other people, and they feel very not alone.”
Unsighted says he also creates his content as a way to better mental health.
“Whether it’s from [my] rage music and it’s all “get rid of your pain,” or to “oh my God, just be happy and frolic,” and just letting things go, the root of it is mental health, and I think that’s something that’s easily relatable for all,” he explained.
Now, Unsighted said he’s able to go to a location, tell his followers to find him, and before he knows it he is surrounded by fans of his work.
With so much success across platforms, and other connection-dedicated videos like getting commuters to “white girl dance,” on the subway or dance battles in the street, Unsighted says building community is very important.
“It’s like a crabs in the bucket mentality, everybody’s trying to win. So we’re pulling each other down while we’re trying to get to the top,” he said. “I just think the most beautiful moments that I’ve seen in this city is when we lift each other [up] and I just want to see more of that consistently, because this is my home.”
