Wax Poetics, the esteemed New York–born music journal known for its deep, narrative-driven explorations of music and record-collecting culture, has unveiled its most significant archival release yet: an ultra-rare early demo tape from Mariah Carey, sourced directly from legendary producer Arthur Baker’s personal archive. The auction opens December 2 at 3 PM ET and runs through December 11.
Originally launched in 2001 as one of the most respected print journals documenting the roots, evolution, and cultural influence of music, Wax Poetics relaunched last year as a premier editorially focused collectibles marketplace. The platform blends long-form journalism, video storytelling, and cultural preservation with authenticated artist-sourced memorabilia, connecting iconic artists, producers, and estates with collectors to safeguard music history for future generations.
At the center of this release is one of the only original Mariah Carey demo tapes known to exist—handed to Arthur Baker on the very night Carey was first discovered. Containing early, unreleased recordings that ignited one of the most influential careers in modern pop and R&B, the tape stands as a pivotal artifact in music history. Its contents capture the raw beginnings of an artist whose voice and songwriting would soon reshape the global musical landscape.
To accompany the announcement, Wax Poetics and Arthur Baker have shared a video recounting the extraordinary night he first encountered a young Mariah Carey at a Christmas party in New York. Carey personally passed him the demo cassette, recorded with Brenda K. Starr, featuring both covers and original songs. Baker brought her to his studio that same night—where, after hearing just three tracks, he immediately recognized her as a once-in-a-generation talent.
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Reflecting on that moment, Arthur Baker recalls, “I stick the cassette in and the first three songs are all hits and I’m thinking holy shit it’s Madonna meets Whitney. She writes like Madonna sounds like Whitney. This is it, I’ve discovered gold.”
The auction lot includes the demo tape, a verified certificate of authenticity, archival notes, and historical context provided by both Baker’s collection and the Wax Poetics archive team.
“This tape is one of the most sought-after items we have come across. It captures the exact moment an era-defining artist was emerging, before the world knew her name. Our mission has always been to preserve and grow music culture with care, context, and respect. This release honors one of the greatest singers and songwriters of our time by preserving a rare piece of her story,” says Alex Bruh, co-owner and CEO of Wax Poetics.
This monumental release follows a string of successful auctions featuring memorabilia from Don Blackman, Bootsy Collins, Louie Vega, DāM-FunK, and Arthur Baker, reinforcing the platform’s rise as a leading curator of authenticated, historically significant music collectibles.
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