The Botticellis sit back on dusty furniture in an old purple mansion in the East Hills of Oakland, picking at their carne asada burritos and enjoying the afternoon sun. The brotherly foursome just finished a photo shoot in the eccentric, opulent rooms. This choice of location implies a certain air of maturity and a lust for yesterday — two attributes that aptly describe the Botticellis.

The Botticellis have an accessible sound that has been compared to Big Star, the Shins, the Beach Boys, Guided by Voices, and Weezer. In addition to playing the guitar and the Rhodes, the articulate Alexi Lesterjett is the band’s lead vocalist, his dreamy voice layering melodic fairytale lyrics upon catchy pop hooks. His childhood friend Zack Ehrlick provides rhythm on the drums. “We were in rock bands since we were nine, but were performing violin duets since we were five,” quips Lesterjett. Rounding out the band is Burton Li on guitar and background vocals, and newcomer Ian Nansen on bass. Nansen replaced Ian Bjornstad, who’s currently touring with John Vanderslice.

It’s hard to believe the band has only been together for three years — their self-produced, self-titled EP is an excellent collection of five flawless, bittersweet gems. Drawing inspiration from vintage pop bands of the 1960s and 1970s, each of the tracks is a masterpiece. “We work on songs probably longer than most bands do,” Lesterjett explains. “We’re really anal about every detail on every song.” That attention to detail pays off — there’s no mediocrity or filler in the five-track EP. Each track is an adventure in songwriting and composition, taking the listener through a roller coaster ride of chord progressions and tempo changes.

In addition to a distinct sound, the band exudes a fresh do-it-yourself attitude. The EP sounds tight and meticulous, but definitely has some homemade touches. “One advantage to producing your own music is having your own recording set up, and [being able] to get super deep into production ideas,” says Lesterjett. “The flipside is you don’t have stuff to make the recordings sound extra good.” However, the band sounds “extra good” in its live shows and deserves credit for pulling off the nuances of the album on stage. They aren’t into fancy production tricks to begin with, either. “For the EP, we did all the rhythm tracks — drums and guitar — live in the studio. So, we’re able to capture the same energy and the sound on the EP as we are in our live performances,” says Li.

The band has already snagged a couple of the local indie scene’s brass rings — performing at the San Francisco Noise Pop Festival and the Great American Music Hall. “Our ultimate dream was to play the Great American Music Hall — which is a ridiculous venue to see shows and play at — and we had a great night to a sold-out crowd,” says Lesterjett. Their talent has gotten them a foot in the door, and their strong relationships in the local indie scene have helped them squeeze the rest of the way in. “Anyone who is even paying a little bit of attention can feel that there is something cool happening now in San Francisco — there are an amazing amount of local bands out there,” says Lesterjett. “We go see each other’s shows, we support each other and help each other out.”

Having visibility in the local scene helps the Botticellis stay true to their independent vibe. They face the same frustrations and challenges most up-and-coming bands do, however, and while they enjoy their independence they recognize the value that a label can bring. “Sure, it’s possible in this day and age to bypass labels and sell a shitload of records, but there’s something to be said about having a great indie label to back you up — it’s got the family vibe to it,” says Lesterjett. Plans for a full-length are in the works — so labels, take notice.

www.thebotticellis.com