USM PENANG, 12 January 2026 – The USM Jazz Band drew an audience of more than 300 to the REBEL 4.0 concert held on 10 January 2026 at KOMCA DPS 1, reaffirming Universiti Sains Malaysia’s commitment to nurturing student creativity and artistic expression through music.

Carrying the theme “Time Is Running Out”, the concert combined rock music, narrative performance and a school-themed concept to create an immersive experience that resonated strongly with the university community.

REBEL is an annual mini-concert organised by the USM Jazz Band ahead of study week, providing students with a creative outlet to unwind and manage academic stress prior to their final examinations.

Known informally as a “study week gig”, the concert has evolved into a recognised platform for music, self-expression and community engagement within the USM campus.

The name REBEL, which stands for “Reimagine Everything, Break Every Limit”, reflects the band’s ethos of challenging conventions and exploring new musical ideas through collaborative performance.

This year’s concert featured expanded musical arrangements that extended beyond the standard rhythm section to include strings, woodwinds and brass instruments such as violins, saxophones, flutes, trumpets and trombones.

The diverse instrumentation highlighted the band’s versatility while showcasing the talents of students from various schools across USM, reinforcing the university’s inclusive artistic culture.

The concert opened with a dramatic examination hall scene in which student characters were interrupted by a strict teacher, before a theatrical transformation shifted the setting from academic pressure to musical expression.

As flashing lights signalled the arrival of mysterious “Men in Black”, desks and examination papers were replaced with instruments, leading into the opening song "Time Is Running Out" by Muse as a symbolic release from constraint.

“My aim is to create more than just a practice space; I want to provide a place for growth, trust and trial and error, where students learn that behind every polished performance lies a series of messy attempts and moments when they could have given up, but chose not to,” said Azreen Harlina Azizan, instructor and creative director of the USM Jazz Band.

One of the concert’s highlights was "Mr. Know It All" by Kelly Clarkson, performed by an all-female ensemble that included Azreen on bass guitar.

The performance delivered a strong message of women’s empowerment, confidence and unity, resonating with the concert’s broader theme of self-expression.

Among other highlights, the concert featured covers of early-2000s anthems including "The Great Escape", "Iris", "The Middle" by Jimmy Eat World, and "Bring Me to Life" by Evanescence, with the carefully curated setlist evoking a sense of nostalgia while reconnecting the audience with an era of music that continues to resonate across generations.

The concert concluded with an encore performance of Golden by K-Pop Demon Hunters, which also served as a preview of the band’s upcoming annual concert themed "Golden".

REBEL 4.0 was more than a concert – it stood as a celebration of creativity, diversity and resilience, once again proving the USM Jazz Band’s ability to push artistic boundaries through music.

Text: USM Jazz Band/Editing: Shafinaz Md Ismail