
He went to bed a street sweeper. He woke up a national celebrity.
Until recently, Macario Martínez was one of the thousands of fluorescent-green uniformed street sweepers in Mexico City, toiling with their long-bristled brushes in 8-hour shifts for about $10 a day.
Then came the video.
Martínez, a 24-year-old aspiring musician and composer, surreptitiously recorded himself riding on the back of his garbage truck as it rumbled down the city's tree-lined Reforma Avenue, his fellow sweepers unaware.
He made several takes early one morning and then laid the images over a plaintive, romantic song he'd written about a love scorned. At 7 p.m. on Jan. 27, he posted it on TikTok. Waking up the next day for his 6 a.m. shift, Martínez was shocked to see 'Sueña Lindo, Corazón" ('Beautiful Dream, My Love") had around 100,000 views. His previous videos had topped out at about 1,000.
'That day I went to work, but I was really distracted because I kept checking my TikTok," Martínez said in an interview.
Two weeks later, he quit.
The song's nostalgic tone struck a chord, and Martínez became an overnight sensation.
His TikTok video has been viewed more than 47 million times. His Spotify ballooned from a few thousand monthly listeners to around two million. People now recognize Martínez on the streets of Mexico City and want selfies with him. His phone number was leaked to the public, and fans sent him messages on WhatsApp. When he went to bid his co-sweepers adios, a circus of fans, TV crews and record-company employees erupted around him.
'I was trying to focus on my music, but I was filled with emotions," said Martínez, who admirers simply call Macario. 'It was too much. I don't know how I endured it and processed it."
Martínez's rise from obscurity to fame has resonated in a relatively poor country with limited social mobility. He has emerged as a working-class folk hero.
'Achieve your dreams, Macario, for those of us who can't shine like you," wrote one follower on TikTok. 'If the rich have their artists for their parties, we have you for our struggles," another said.
It's also a testimony to the ways in which TikTok has changed how musicians are discovered and gain fame, as viral videos bypass the record labels that were once the industry's traditional gatekeepers. The platform has helped put new music and relatively unknown artists on the charts, including Olivia Rodrigo, Lil Nas X—and Martínez.
Born and raised in Mexico City, Martínez had harbored dreams of a musical career since he was in high school. After graduating, he worked as a gardener and then as a street sweeper to make ends meet, nurturing his music during his free time at night.
He had intended to go to college to study filmmaking, another one of his interests along with photography, but he failed Mexico's competitive college entry exam twice as he cared for family members.
'Many of us Mexicans work in areas that we don't dream about," Martínez said, 'but we do it to keep ourselves afloat and to be able to work on the projects we really love."
The musician cried during a February TV interview as he heard 'Sueña Lindo" being played live on air for the first time.
'I think his authentic reaction helped people connect with him," said Omar Pérez Reyes, a popular Mexican TV and radio personality known as 'Faisy" who interviewed Martínez that day. 'He showed his vulnerability."
That studio appearance with Pérez and a follow-up video of the TV host buying Martínez a new Godin guitar in a Mexico City music shop garnered tens of millions of views on social media, adding to the momentum.
Abraham Serey, a Mexican artist and social-media personality, published one of many videos about Martínez that sought to explain his rise to stardom. 'Like many artists, his days were filled with challenges, but he had so much passion that he never gave up," Serey said.
A self-taught musician, Martínez began composing and performing in 2019, playing under a pedestrian bridge for tips and at local bars and pizzerias for friends while recording songs and videos in a makeshift studio and posting them on social media.
His music has its roots in the Gulf state of Veracruz, home to the 'son jarocho" folk genre that uses a small double-stringed guitar and a donkey's jaw for percussion. He also draws inspiration from dream pop, an alt-rock genre that uses effects such as reverb, echo, tremolo and chorus.
'Sueña Lindo" typifies those influences
.
Its hazy, atmospheric mix of guitar chords and ambient sounds matches the longing in the lyrics, about the pain of a breakup and how Martínez was able to come to terms with it.
'The song is about nurturing the dreams of a person whom you love even if that person isn't ready to love you," he said. 'It's saying, 'rest, sleep well, and don't worry about anything because I will always love you no matter what.' "
Now focusing on his music full-time, Martínez said he is retaining ownership of his songs but signed a contract with Sony Music Publishing to manage them, protect their copyright and to secure opportunities for their placement in media and brand deals.
Martínez has performed at major Mexican music festivals and collaborated with other artists, including the regional Mexican group Eslabon Armado and rapper Sabino. He is recording new singles, the latest set to be released on May 9.
He says he's thrilled with his success and is learning to live with his fame.
His first performance after 'Sueña Lindo" went viral was a free concert on Valentine's Day in front of a few hundred enthusiastic fans at a landmark outdoor Mexico City cultural center.
Martínez invited his former co-workers to the front row, where they cheered him on.
Write to Robert P. Walzer at robert.walzer@wsj.com
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Time of India
39 minutes ago
- Time of India
Aubrey Anderson-Emmons marks 18th Birthday, recalls childhood stardom
A ubrey Anderson-Emmons, the actress who will always be remembered as Lily Tucker-Pritchett on the hit TV show Modern Family, has hit a big personal milestone — her 18th birthday. The actress, who was introduced to the world at age four, marked her birthday last Friday, June 6, with a series of photos posted on Instagram to celebrate. Anderson-Emmons is photographed dressed in a long-sleeved, fitted white dress in the images. She captioned the photo, "hehe bday week gonna go crazy ????." Her mother, comedian Amy Anderson, replied to the post with 18 birthday cake emojis. Anderson-Emmons was part of the cast of Modern Family in 2011 as part of its third season, where she played Lily, Cam (Eric Stonestreet) and Mitch's ( Jesse Tyler Ferguson ) adopted daughter. She stayed with the show up to its eleventh season, which ended in 2020. To celebrate her birthday, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, who portrayed her on-screen father Mitch, posted a tribute on Instagram Stories. He shared a picture of the two from the earlier days with the caption, "Happy birthday ????????." Prior to her birthday, Anderson-Emmons posted a TikTok on May 6 where she openly talked about her life growing up as an entertainer. During the video, she reminisced about being famous at a young age and explained how she rediscovered her love for acting through her high school drama program after taking a hiatus. Now officially an adult, Anderson-Emmons still has a social media presence as she pursues prospects beyond her start in television.


Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Blake Lively gets accused of behaving rudely to the staff; allegations surface amid the legal battle with Justin Baldoni
After a win in 's $400 million defamatory lawsuit against her getting dismissed by the court, a video has been surfacing on the internet where has been accused of behaving rudely and being entitled to the staff in New York City. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The TikToker 's "horrible experience" with Blake Lively In a TikTok video by the fan named Landon, she publicly accused Lively of being rude and entitled when she saw the 'Gossip Girl' alum in an accessory store. Not only was she demanding items that weren't touched by other customers, but she was also allegedly ignoring everyone, including her children and niece, according to The Mirror. 'It was honestly a horrible experience. I don't know how she has any fans anymore,' Landon said in the clip, before adding, 'First of all, we walked in and we're just like, looking around … I didn't even notice [Lively] at first. I'm just looking, shopping for my sister, and the way [Lively's] talking to the workers at the store was so rude.' Talking about the items that weren't touched by other customers, the TikTok user said, 'She was like, 'I want a fresh one of these — one that wasn't touched by other customers.… Is there a private bathroom?'' "Like, you're being so entitled" When choosing the patches Blake needed to customise for her bag, Landon said that she was ignoring her kids and her niece. 'I was like, 'Oh my God. People are working hard in stores like this, and this is how you're treating them?' Like, you're being so entitled,' she continued. Additionally, when Landon and her sister left the store, it was clear to them that they were invading the space. ' There's no sign that says you can't enter. She didn't block it off,' she said, before continuing, 'And the second we leave, [Lively's] security guard comes and stands in front of the door. And now I'm at the corner of the street, and the security guard is staring at me.' Concluding the post, Landon claimed that anyone who is a fan of Blake Lively should rethink the decision.
&w=3840&q=100)

First Post
2 hours ago
- First Post
Why Khaby Lame, the world's most-followed TikToker, was forced to leave US
Khaby Lame, the social media influencer with 162.2 million followers and known for his silent comic video, was reportedly briefly detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the US last week. The Senegal-born Italian content creator allegedly overstayed in the US after his visa expired, violating immigration rules. However, he was released the same day and has now left the country read more Khabane "Khaby" Lame, is a Senegalese-Italian content creator with over 162 million TikTok followers was reportedly briefly detained by US immigration authorities over visa violation. Image courtesy: Instagram/@Khabane Lame Khaby Lame, the most-followed personality on TikTok, landed in an unexpected situation last week. The 24-year-old social media sensation, famous for his wordless comedy videos, was reportedly detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Las Vegas on Friday. According to a statement by ICE, Khaby was briefly held due to alleged immigration violations but was released soon after being issued a voluntary departure. He has since left the country. So what exactly happened? And why was TikTok's favourite star suddenly in the spotlight for something so serious? Here's a breakdown of the incident. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Why was Khaby Lame detained by immigration authorities? According to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Lame, who is an Italian citizen, was detained in Nevada over alleged immigration violations. 'The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement detained Seringe Khabane Lame, 25, a citizen of Italy, June 6 at the Harry Reid International Airport, Las Vegas, Nevada, for immigration violations,' ICE said in the statement given to Men's Journal. Officials noted that the 24-year-old influencer had entered the United States on April 30 but overstayed the permitted duration of his visa. However, 'Lame was granted voluntary departure June 6 and has since departed the US,' the agency added. As of Tuesday morning, Lame had not publicly commented on the matter. However, Barron Trump's close aide and social media influencer, Bo Loudon, was the first to post about the incident on X, claiming that Lame had been arrested in Las Vegas and was being held at the Henderson Detention Centre. Referring to Lame as an 'illegal alien,' Loudon alleged that he had personally tipped off authorities about the visa overstay. 'I discovered he was illegal, who overstayed an invalid visa, evaded taxes, and I personally took action to have him deported,' he wrote in his post. Loudon also claimed he worked with 'the patriots at President Trump's DHS to make this happen'. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Since returning to the office in January, US President Donald Trump has pushed for stricter immigration enforcement. His administration has already begun rolling out a mass deportation campaign , parts of which are currently facing legal challenges in US courts. Who is Khaby Lame? Khabane 'Khaby' Lame, born on March 9, 2000, is a Senegalese-Italian content creator who currently holds the top spot on TikTok, boasting over 162 million followers as of 2025. He first rose to fame during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, shortly after losing his job as a factory mechanic in Chivasso, near Turin, Italy, a city he's called home since he was just one year old. The inspiration for his now-famous content reportedly struck while he was spending time around the housing complex where he lived. Since then, his rise has been nothing short of meteoric. Khaby became a global sensation thanks to his silent, straight-faced comedy videos that poke fun at overly complicated 'life hacks.' His signature style relies on expressive gestures, especially his trademark move: arms stretched out, palms up and wide eyes. His wordless style, inspired by universal humour, has made him globally relatable. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In June 2022, he officially became TikTok's most-followed creator, overtaking Charli D'Amelio. According to Forbes, between June 2022 and September 2023, Lame earned up to $750,000 per post, building a net worth estimated at $16.5 million through partnerships with brands such as Hugo Boss, Fortnite, and Walmart. He has also been named a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. Beyond social media, Khaby has expanded into acting and television. He appeared in Bad Boys: Ride or Die (2024), starred in the Tubi series Khaby Is Coming to America, and served as a judge on Italia's Got Talent. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD His influence has also earned him spots on prestigious lists like Forbes 30 Under 30 and Fortune 40 Under 40. A practising Muslim, Khaby married Wendy Thembelihle Juel in 2023. However, the couple separated by May 2024. With input from agencies