Aqua Velvets, an American surf rock revival band from San Francisco, California, was formed in the 1980s by guitarist Miles Corbin. The band's cinematic sound, influenced by film composers like Ennio Morricone and John Barry, featured original songs with strings, horns, keyboards, and exotic instruments. The group initially recorded their debut album The Aqua Velvets over several years in an auto repair shop where bassist Michael Lindner worked before releasing it in 1992. In 1995, they signed to Atlantic Records and released Surfmania, followed by subsequent albums on BMG subsidiary Milan Records. Notable subsequent releases include Nomad (2007) and Tiki Beat (2010). Aqua Velvets' music has also notably been covered by various surf artists.